黑料吃瓜

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a foundational skill for success in nearly every profession, transforming how people learn, work and solve problems across industries. As employers increasingly expect workers to understand and use AI responsibly and effectively, expanding access to AI education has become an urgent workforce and economic priority.

To help meet that need, 黑料吃瓜 is co-leading, a first-in-the-nation statewide pilot micro-credential program, offered to Californians interested in expanding their AI literacy and preparing to join the workforce of the future.

鈥淎rtificial intelligence has rapidly become a foundational skill for work, much like digital literacy became a generation ago,鈥� said James P. Frazee, 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 vice president for information technology and chief information officer. 

鈥淎I-Ready California is about ensuring every Californian has the opportunity to build the knowledge, judgment and confidence to use AI responsibly and effectively 鈥� regardless of their background or career path 鈥� and to be competitive for our changing workforce,鈥� said Frazee, also a founding member of the California State University AI Workforce Acceleration Board. 

The initiative was developed through the CSU-Industry AI Workforce Acceleration Board and 黑料吃瓜 in partnership with the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, California Community Colleges, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Instructure.

鈥淎I-Ready California reflects what public higher education does best: bringing together education, industry and government to expand opportunity and prepare Californians for the future of work,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜 President Adela de la Torre. 

The initial pilot is launching with 500 participants drawn from both the San Diego Community College District and individuals participating in the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program in the San Diego region. 

鈥淭hrough this partnership among higher education, government, and industry, we are creating an accessible on-ramp that prepares people not just to use today's AI tools, but to adapt and thrive as work continues to evolve,鈥� Frazee said. 

Students will complete the program through 黑料吃瓜 Global Campus. More information about AI-Ready California, including enrollment information and program requirements, is on the . 

Initiative addresses urgent training, educational demands

AI-Ready California, which is launching with support from the James Irvine Foundation, reflects a growing recognition that AI literacy is becoming an essential workforce competency.

The initiative is designed to equip Californians with essential AI knowledge through an online learning experience focused on two areas: responsible AI use and practical workforce applications. Participants will learn how to use AI safely and ethically while developing skills that support productivity, career advancement and long-term adaptability in an evolving labor market.

鈥淲ith AI鈥慠eady California, we鈥檙e working to ensure Californians, regardless of background or experience, have the skills and confidence they need to use AI responsibly and productively,鈥� said Stewart Knox, secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency. 鈥淥ur partnership with higher education and industry reflects a shared commitment to preparing Californians for the future of work through expanded access to learning today.鈥�

鈥淭hrough this partnership among higher education, government and industry, we are creating an accessible on-ramp that prepares people not just to use today's AI tools, but to adapt and thrive as work continues to evolve.鈥�

Upon successful completion, participants will earn an AI literacy micro-credential that can serve as a pathway to additional educational opportunities, workforce development resources and career advancement while demonstrating foundational AI competency to employers.

鈥淪an Diego Community College District is proud to help launch this effort because AI literacy must be accessible to Californians across every background, zip code and stage of life,鈥� said Gregory Smith, the San Diego Community College District chancellor. 

鈥淎s AI continues to reshape learning and work, community colleges have an essential role in helping eliminate equity gaps in education and employment while preparing our students and communities to participate fully in the future economy,鈥� Smith said. 

California initiative builds on years of AI research and training  

For 黑料吃瓜, the initiative builds on the university's commitment to innovation, workforce development and expanding educational access through strategic partnerships that prepare learners for emerging opportunities.

In 2023, 黑料吃瓜 launched one of the most comprehensive on artificial intelligence, one that introduced new and previously unknown information about AI perceptions, adoption and usage among students, faculty and staff. The survey results were foundational for the development of university training, education and resource materials, and the expansion of support for ethical and equitable adoption of AI. 

That same year, the was developed at 黑料吃瓜, and launched in spring 2024. The training program has since been significantly expanded with new modules, training and guidance designed for students, faculty, staff across the CSU system and also employees across sectors outside of the CSU. 

In 2025, the CSU, the largest and most diverse public four-year university in the country, announced a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative to drive AI training and tools across the system. At that time, the CSU also announced the creation of the AI Workforce Acceleration Board, of which 黑料吃瓜 is a founding member. 

That same year, 黑料吃瓜 took an additional and significant step toward improving access to AI tools with a partnership with the CSU and OpenAI to provide the campus community with no-cost access to ChatGPT Edu, a version of the massively popular generative AI tool designed specifically for higher education, while expanding access to other AI tools. now include Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, NotebookLM and other tools and resources. 

鈥淏uilding on 黑料吃瓜's early leadership in AI education, we are expanding this work with our partners to make foundational AI literacy accessible to more Californians, ensuring that more people have the skills and confidence to thrive in our changing economy,鈥� de la Torre said. 

鈥淎s artificial intelligence changes the skills employers need and the opportunities available to employees, California has an opportunity to lead by ensuring AI literacy is within reach for everyone,鈥� de la Torre also said. 鈥淭his initiative reflects our commitment to preparing learners for careers that will continue to evolve while strengthening the long-term competitiveness of our state's workforce and economy.鈥�