AI Certifications
Mark Hinkle
I publish a network of AI newsletters for business under The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise Network and I run a B2B AI Consultancy Peripety Labs. I love dogs and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Do you need an AI certification to get or keep your job?
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IT certifications have been pivotal in shaping the modern tech workforce, providing structured learning paths that validate a professional’s technical expertise. Initially, certifications were closely tied to specific vendors and technologies, aligning with the proprietary nature of early IT environments.
For example, the Novell Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE) was highly valued in the 1980s and 90s, focusing on Novell’s network systems. However, as technology evolved, professionals with vendor-specific certifications often found themselves limited when shifting to different systems.
In contrast, vendor-neutral certifications like those from CompTIA (A+, Network+) were designed to cover fundamental concepts that transcended specific vendors, making them more flexible and adaptable to diverse IT environments. These vendor-neutral credentials provided a balanced curriculum focused on industry-wide best practices and core competencies, allowing professionals to apply their skills across platforms. Though these broad
The Modern Need for a Practical, Vendor-neutral AI Certification
As artificial intelligence becomes a core component of digital transformation, the need for an adaptable AI workforce is urgent. AI vendors like Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google offer certification programs tied to their ecosystems, covering their proprietary tools and workflows. While these certifications are valuable, they can leave gaps in a professional’s skill set, particularly for organizations leveraging multi-cloud or hybrid AI solutions.
A vendor-neutral AI certification program could fill this gap, focusing on practical skills in AI fundamentals, governance, ethical considerations, and best practices across various platforms. By concentrating on adaptable, cross-platform competencies, such a program would allow AI professionals to operate confidently in various AI environments and prepare existing IT infrastructure and operations personnel to integrate AI seamlessly.
Practical, Platform-agnostic Training Models
Successful training programs like A Cloud Guru and Scaled Agile offer a template for what a vendor-neutral AI certification might look like:
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These programs highlight the value of practical, vendor-neutral training. An AI certification modeled after these approaches would focus on hands-on, platform-independent learning to cultivate versatile skills in AI—something particularly relevant for professionals in IT and cloud infrastructure who are new to AI but experienced in supporting complex technical environments.
Key Elements of a Practical, Vendor-Neutral AI Certification Program
For an AI certification program to be truly effective, it should cover essential competencies that apply across tools, platforms, and industries. Here are the core elements:
The Case for a Desktop Knowledge AI Certification
While many AI certifications focus on complex, enterprise-level integrations, there is an increasing need for a Desktop Knowledge Worker AI Certification focusing on core business user competencies. This certification would target knowledge workers, business analysts, and IT professionals who need to leverage AI daily without deep technical expertise. Modules would include:
I am currently considering creating a full course to address these needs, but in the short term, I am experimenting with my free 14-day email course, The Artificially Intelligent Operating System (The AIOS). I’d love for you to try it and provide feedback so I can continue providing high-quality AI advice.
Lead Global SAP Talent Attraction??Servant Leadership & Emotional Intelligence Advocate??Passionate about the human-centric approach in AI & Industry 5.0??Convinced Humanist & Libertarian??
4 个月Well put, Mark. Certifications have indeed shaped the tech landscape, providing structured ways to validate expertise, but AI introduces a unique challenge with its platform-specific certifications. I believe that an AI certification that is vendor-neutral would be transformative. The focus on core competencies like data handling, ethical AI, and workflow adaptability is essential in today’s multi-cloud and hybrid environments.? Such a certification could empower professionals to navigate different ecosystems, allowing for broader flexibility and innovation. It’s a much-needed shift that could align AI certifications with the cross-platform demands of the industry. Thanks for starting this discussion. Your take on the changing requirements for AI certification rings true.
Wild Card - draw me for a winning hand | Creative Problem Solver in Many Roles | Manual Software QA | Project Management | Business Analysis | Auditing | Accounting |
4 个月Two problems. First, AI is based on a dehumanizing philosophy. Nothing good comes from dehumanizing philosophies. Second, certifications are insufficient to get past the catch-22.
This is an amazing perspective. I couldn't agree more. - Tommy, Team MiTL
Find me on Discord ???
4 个月https://discord.gg/learnmutiny
Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer | Specializing in Financial & Operational Growth Strategies for Tech-Enabled Sectors
4 个月Great points! AI needs certs that support ethical practices and cross-platform functionality. ??