A Singapore-based firm will train migrant domestic workers and construction workers, equipping them with artificial intelligence (AI) skills in preparation for related jobs when they return to their home countries. With support from social investor network AVPN, Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), TagTeam is among the 49 beneficiaries of the US$15 million ($19.47 million) AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific, a three-year programme announced in May 2024.
These firms will receive financial support and expert guidance to address the unique challenges faced by workers in the AI work era, say the three parties in a May 5 announcement.
Selected organisations will be trained by AVPN's strategic partners, including organisations such as Seoul National University, KORIKA, AI Singapore, AI Education (Vietnam), and Wadhwani AI. These firms will then directly reach and train various groups of workers, including migrant workers, informal workers, women and gender minorities, and persons with disabilities.
In response to the strong interest in skill development for AI, Google.org is providing an additional US$10 million to AVPN to further AI skilling initiatives this year. Google.org, founded in October 2005, is the charitable arm of Google.
This expansion, in collaboration with Asean Foundation, will introduce a dedicated track focused on supporting micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia, alongside continued efforts to empower workers across Asia-Pacific.
Together with the initial US$15 million funding from Google.org, AVPN's initiative aims to support training for 720,000 workers across Asia Pacific and 100,000 MSMEs across the Southeast Asia region.
See also: Microsoft is key holdout for OpenAI restructuring plan
Sanjay Gupta, Google's Asia-Pacific president, says AI has the potential to transform economies and unlock new opportunities, but its benefits must be accessible to everyone. "Google is proud to support the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific initiative, which is equipping workers across the region with the skills and tools they need to thrive in an AI-powered future. This initiative ensures that more people can participate in - and benefit from - the growing AI economy. We remain committed to helping build a workforce that is ready to harness AI's full potential for a more equitable future."
MSME mismatch
96% of Asia-Pacific's companies are MSMEs, yet many struggle with AI skill development due to "systemic barriers" such as limited training accessibility, lack of access to digital infrastructure and constrained financial resources, according to a new report by AVPN.
See also: Palantir sales forecast falls short of Wall Street's hopes
The 122-page "AI for All: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Asia-Pacific" report, released May 5, claims only 15% of 3,000 respondents surveyed had engaged in AI skilling programmes, while more than half (57%) remain unaware that these resources even exist.
That said, young workers are embracing AI as a means to future-proof their careers in an AI driven future, with one in five younger workers engaged in AI skilling programmes.
Meanwhile, mature workers aged 50 to 65 were 1.6 times more likely to indicate concerns about AI trustworthiness and language barriers, indicating the importance of local language outreach and general awareness-building about AI.
Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN, says there is a pressing need to bridge critical skills gaps in communities with unmet needs across Asia Pacific. "Our funded organisations are at the heart of this important component of the AI work transition, and they bring expertise and a profound commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by these communities. Through their innovative approaches and dedication to reach and include those who may be otherwise left behind, the AI Opportunity Fund initiative will pave the way for inclusive growth, ensuring that all segments of society can participate in and benefit from technological advancements, fostering a more equitable future for all."
