Infosys launches free AI training and certification programme

Information technology major Infosys has launched 'Citizens Data Science', a free AI training and certification programme, through Infosys Springboard to empower individuals with the necessary skills to succeed in the future job market. 

The 'Citizens Data Science' course covers essential aspects of data science, such as Python programming, linear algebra, probability and statistics, and exploratory data analysis. This course aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling learners to acquire practical data science skills.

Infosys will award learners with a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

“We firmly believe that AI proficiency will give young aspirants and professionals a competitive advantage in a dynamic and demanding job market,” said Thirumala Arohi, SVP and Head-Education, Training and Assessment at Infosys.

Infosys Springboard offers a variety of AI courses, including introductory and advanced courses on topics like deep learning, natural language processing, and generative AI. 

Infosys Springboard, which is accessible on any device, aims to foster collaboration between educators and learners, catering to students from Class 6 to lifelong learners. The platform has over 5.5 million registered users as of now.

Salil Parekh, CEO of Infosys, said Generative AI will create more opportunities.

Infosys along with Elon Musk, AWS, and others had, in 2015, donated $1 billion to OpenAI which eventually grew to be one of the world’s most influential AI startups. Recently, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani said that he will donate $38.5 million to his alma mater Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to push for AI advancements.

Infosys also recently launched Topaz, an AI-focused suite with 12,000 use cases, enabling industry-specific solutions in intelligent automation, AI-driven customer service, and enhanced security. Topaz helps businesses adopt open-source LLMs to build narrow transformers, solving specific enterprise challenges and driving growth.

According to Gary Bhattacharjee, VP of Data Strategy and AI at Infosys, AI has the potential to eliminate entire functions rather than just improving processes, resulting in substantial cost reductions for clients. He highlighted the use of robotic process automation (RPA) at Infosys as an illustration of how AI can completely replace human decision-making processes. Bhattacharjee explained that RPA enables Infosys to achieve “labour arbitrage” by substituting human labour with low-cost robots.

Infosys is shifting focus from coding to algorithms as coding becomes more automated. Rather, the company aims to enhance the mathematical understanding of its employees and develop complex quant models. Infosys will continue to hire freshers to develop skills even as it collaborates with IITs and IIMs to attract talented individuals. 

Although Infosys has not sufficiently addressed the impact of AI adoption, the company’s overall hiring, including both freshers and experienced software developers, has decreased from the previous fiscal year’s net addition of 380,000 to an estimated 280,000 in the current fiscal year (FY23).

AI, according to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, could impact 300 million full-time jobs in the IT and related sectors. So it is essential for professionals to take up these courses to stay relevant.