The UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has made an announcement: it will roll out free online AI courses for every adult in the country. These courses are designed to be concise, with some sessions lasting as little as 20 minutes. The primary goal is to equip individuals with practical AI - related working skills and boost the overall efficiency of the workforce.

In this decade, the UK government, in collaboration with partner companies, has set an ambitious target. They aim to offer free foundational AI training to around 10 million employees, which accounts for roughly one - third of the nation's workforce. Additionally, a new department will be established to specifically tackle the impact of AI on the job market.

It is anticipated that these initiatives will bring about significant economic benefits. They are expected to unlock an annual economic output worth up to £140 billion. Previous studies have shown that in the UK, the rate of job displacement caused by AI has already soared to twice the international average, highlighting the urgency and importance of these measures.