The AI training initiative is the first in a series of new GSMA advanced courses aimed at developing skills, fostering innovation and championing workforce diversity.
January 30, 2024 – London and New York: GSMA and IBM today announced a new collaboration to support generative artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and skills in the telecommunications industry through the launch of the GSMA Advance AI Training Program and the Generative AI Challenge and Program from GSMA Foundry.
The AI training programme, the first in a new series of courses from GSMA Advance, seeks to prepare telecoms leaders for the AI era and close skills gaps in the telecoms industry, equipping members with skills and knowledge to help effectively leverage Gen AI technologies. using watsonx, IBM's data and AI platform with AI assistants.
The training program, designed for telecommunications leaders, will cover a wide range of topics, from fundamental principles of AI to specialized applications of Gen AI in telecommunications. To ensure that a wide range of participants can benefit, GSMA's advanced AI training sessions will be held at IBM offices in five locations around the world in 2024, including Dubai, London, Mexico, New York and Seoul , and an online training program will be offered. available in multiple languages.
A digital version of the program will be available to help address both the business strategy and technological foundations of generative AI. This program will leverage IBM watsonx to provide hands-on training designed to equip architects and developers with a deep working knowledge of Gen AI.
The GSMA Foundry Generative AI program will provide GSMA members
access to IBM watsonx. This platform is intended to help telecom industry players explore innovative industry-specific generative AI use cases, enabling members to improve cost leadership, revenue growth, and improve customer experience. . As part of the ongoing collaboration, GSMA Foundry and IBM will drive a series of Gen AI programs and industry challenges to investigate the use of generative AI in various functional areas of a telecommunications provider.
Closing the gap in AI adoption
Through the GSMA Advance AI Training and Foundry Gen AI programs, GSMA and IBM will help address the gap in AI skills, training and tools, supporting GSMA's commitment to operators of all sizes around the world.
IBM's latest AI Adoption Index found that 40% of telcos surveyed are exploring or experimenting with generative AI, and 45% have accelerated AI deployment. GSMA Intelligence research also shows that while 56% of operators surveyed are actively testing generative AI solutions (at a higher rate than any other priority technology), adoption is less common among medium and small operators surveyed .
Through this initiative, GSMA and IBM aim to enable operators, including those supporting the world's least connected communities, to benefit from artificial intelligence technology and develop new innovative and inclusive solutions to help connect those in the society that are not yet online.
Generative AI has enormous potential to help improve all types of operations and customer engagement. Specifically, generative AI can help transform customer service, IT, and network optimization, all areas where automation can significantly help increase agility and efficiency. Through their commitment to developing generative AI skills and training for the telecommunications industry, GSMA and IBM want to enable mobile operators to provide better services and ultimately help more people benefit from digital connectivity.
“Artificial intelligence provides the telecommunications industry and the societies it serves with enormous opportunities to launch new services, improve connectivity and customer experience. In total, it is estimated that AI could contribute $15.7 trillion.1 to the global economy by 2030,” said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA. “However, it is essential that AI is democratized to ensure that all parts of the connectivity industry and its customers, wherever they are in the world, benefit. Providing operators with access to AI tools and insights, along with the necessary skills, access and training, is key to achieving this.”
“As a global leader in AI for enterprise, IBM will provide critical support to this training for the telecommunications industry through this collaboration with the GSMA,” said Stephen Rose, general manager, Global Industries, IBM. “Generative AI can create huge opportunities for communications service providers as they look to optimize current processes and, like the GSMA, we aim to deliver this technology within the industry, which we are making possible through watsonx”.
GSMA advanced training launched to address skills gap in telecoms industry
The AI training program is the first in a series of courses to be announced by GSMA Advance, the GSMA training organisation, which also launched today. GSMA Advance aims to close skills gaps, foster innovation and champion workforce diversity so that industries and societies thrive. With a focus on next-generation learning and cutting-edge technologies, working in partnership with Award Solutions, IBM and Mpirical, GSMA Advance's range of courses spans diverse areas such as AI, cybersecurity, spectrum, policy, GSMA Open Gateway and more. .
With Mobile World Congress just around the corner, the GSMA will share more about the future of the program and additional initiatives to address the AI skills gap. For more information about watsonx, visit ibm.com/watsonx
Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.
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About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to learn more at gsma.com
About IBM
IBM is a leading global provider of hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence and business services, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, optimize business processes, reduce costs, and gain competitive advantage in their industries. Nearly 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas, such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare, rely on IBM and Red Hat OpenShift's hybrid cloud platform to realize their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services provide open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, accountability, inclusion and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.
Media Contact:
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GSMA Press Office – [email protected]
