OSHKOSH (WLUK) — The University of Wisconsin is partnering with UW Credit Union to offer free education on basic understanding of artificial intelligence.
On Tuesday, speakers introduced a new online course centered around an emerging technology called generative AI. This class is open to anyone in Wisconsin.
On Tuesday, speakers introduced a new online course on the emerging technology of generative artificial intelligence. (WLUK)
“The goal is not to make someone an AI expert. The goal is to give people a practical starting point,” said Emily Laird, an AI integration engineer at UW-Stout and author of the course.
This series consists of seven short videos of approximately two minutes each that explain what AI is, how it is used, and the opportunities and challenges it presents.
“ASAP helps people answer so many questions about AI, but primarily helps people start with a basic understanding of what AI is, how to use it safely, and how to determine what is real and what is not in an AI-enabled world,” Laird explained.
The free video series is hosted on the University of Wisconsin’s webpage and also serves as a gateway to additional AI-related courses, programs, and educational resources available at the state’s 13 public universities.
FOX 11 asked President Jay Rothman why the University of Wisconsin is spearheading this new program.
“Given the state of Wisconsin’s belief that universities should have an impact throughout the state and beyond, this is clear evidence of what we have to offer the state of Wisconsin,” he said. “We are embedding AI in our curriculum across the university, so that when our students graduate, they not only are AI-savvy, but most importantly, they have those lasting skills: the ability to think critically, distinguish fact from fiction, and interact with humans.”
Oshkosh President Manohar Singh said the new courses are an addition to the university’s expanding AI offerings.
“We have already launched two certification programs. We have an AI pioneer group of industry partners, faculty colleagues, administration, and staff members,” Singh explained. “They are leading this. We should call this an AI revolution within our ecosystem.”
The course is free to take and is funded by UW Credit Union. It cost about $25,000 to get the program up and running.
As more people gain access to AI training, a new report shows why it’s important. Anthropic’s latest economic indicators show that AI is reshaping rather than replacing most jobs.
The biggest takeaway? Workers who know how to use AI have a huge advantage. The report shows that AI is already helping with complex tasks like writing and coding, often saving time and increasing productivity.
But the benefits are not evenly spread. Experts say people who learn AI skills now could be in a better position as the workplace continues to change.
