Verizon將投資7,000萬美元推動AI培訓計畫

作者：David ShepardsonBy David Shepardson

華盛頓9月23日（路透）— 威訊（Verizon）週三表示，隨著美國經濟適應快速的科技變遷，該公司將投資7,000萬美元，推動一項全美計畫，為求職者、小型企業和教育工作者提供AI培訓。WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Verizon said on Wednesday it would invest $70 million in a nationwide effort to provide AI training to job seekers, small businesses and educators, as the US economy adapts to rapid technological change.

這家美國電信公司正與善意企業（Goodwill Industries）等非營利計畫合作，目標是運用IBM、Google、Anthropic、Microsoft和OpenAI等公司的培訓資源，為數十萬人提供AI培訓。The US telecom company is partnering with non-profit programs such as Goodwill Industries and aims to provide AI training to hundreds of thousands of people using training resources from companies including IBM, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI.

威訊執行長丹・舒爾曼（Dan Schulman）接受訪問時表示：「AI將改變勞動力的面貌。順帶一提，我們無法單獨做到這件事，但也許我們能激勵他人，並稍微成為一個榜樣。」"AI will change the face of the workforce," Verizon CEO Dan Schulman said in an interview. "We can't do it alone, by the way, but maybe we can inspire and be a bit of a role model."

舒爾曼希望其他大型企業加入這項行動，並協助資助能讓勞工取得特定AI相關工作技能的計畫。Schulman wants other large companies to join the effort and help fund programs that equip workers with skills for specific AI-related jobs.

舒爾曼說：「挺身而出符合所有企業領袖的自身利益。如果每一家財星百大企業都投入5,000萬或7,000萬美元，我們就會有一筆數十億美元規模的基金。」"It's in the self-interest of all business leaders to step up," Schulman said. "If every Fortune 100 (company) put $50 million or $70 million into this, we have a multibillion-dollar fund."

威訊去年宣布計畫裁減1萬3,000個職位後，承諾投入2,000萬美元，協助離職員工取得AI技能。這項新倡議將再增加5,000萬美元。Verizon last year committed $20 million to help departing employees gain AI skills after announcing plans to cut 13,000 jobs. The new initiative adds a further $50 million.

善意企業執行長史蒂文・普雷斯頓（Steven Preston）接受訪問時表示：「我們非常重視在轉型中的經濟裡，與相關工作相符的實用技能。雇主在職缺說明中對AI的要求剛剛呈現指數級上升。因此，他們正在尋找能把AI應用於特定技能的人才。」"We are very focused on relevant skills for relevant jobs in a transitioning economy," said Goodwill Industries CEO Steven Preston in an interview. "The requirement for AI in job descriptions by employers has just gone up exponentially. So they're looking for people who can apply AI in specific skills."

威訊平台將提供免費培訓，內容會針對特定職業量身打造。普雷斯頓說，許多勞工把AI培訓視為「黑洞」，因為他們不確定該從何開始。The Verizon platform will offer free training tailored to specific occupations. Many workers view AI training as a "black hole", Preston said, because they are unsure where to begin.

隨著雇主在各類工作中愈來愈要求科技技能，善意企業於2017年開始提供數位技能培訓。Goodwill began providing digital skills training in 2017 as employers increasingly demanded technology skills across a wide range of jobs.

普雷斯頓說：「這是在提供進入有意義職務的機會，而許多人過去本來無法競爭這些職位。」"This is providing access to meaningful roles that many people wouldn't have been able to compete for before," Preston said.

威訊資深副總裁唐娜・艾普斯（Donna Epps）表示，公司選擇與善意企業這類組織合作，是因為對方已在地方社區有深厚基礎，並能提供實作支援。艾普斯說：「在美國打造準備好迎接AI的勞動力，是一項龐大的挑戰。」Verizon senior vice president Donna Epps said the company chose to partner with an organisation such as Goodwill because it already has a strong presence in local communities and can provide hands-on support. "It's a massive challenge to create a AI ready workforce in the U.S.," Epps said.

（David Shepardson報導。David Goodman與Mark Potter編輯）(Reporting by David Shepardson. Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter)