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CLAOC To Introduce AI Workforce Training Programs

workforce

CLAOC To Introduce AI Workforce Training Programs

CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC) announced plans to launch Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills development programs early next year in partnership with Intel, along with local educational, community and workforce partners. According to CLAOC SVP Amy Kaufman, the new programs will focus on providing necessary AI skills to empower the future workforce in the growing digital economy.

Kaufman said regional workforce education is key to the OC region’s global competitiveness as companies accelerate their use of AI. “Demand for AI skills is expected to grow exponentially over the next three years and drive a need for workers to learn new technical skills across industries,” she said.

A recent Edscoop survey of higher education leaders and IT decision-makers found that 69% of all respondents sensed increasing demand from employers for graduates with AI technical skills. In January, CLAOC and its partners began a series of awareness and training sessions on how to equip the future workforce with the necessary technical, social, and career growth skills to succeed. As a partner in the effort, Intel will supply its expertise and intellectual property for the development of curriculum to be introduced by CLAOCs education partners at the high schools and community colleges with a goal to train and certify AI for Workforce skills (including non-coding), and enable access to work-based learning opportunities for at least 3,000 students by October 2026.

Carlos Contreras, Senior Director of AI and Digital Readiness at Intel said, “the next-generation workforce will need this kind of specialized training to develop solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, and community colleges have a huge role to play in unleashing innovative thinking.”

Intel’s corporate responsibility commitment to positive global impact is embedded in its purpose to create world-changing technology that improves the life of every person on the planet. This partnership builds on Intel’s commitment to expanding digital readiness to reach 30 million people in 30,000 institutions in 30 countries as part of the company’s 2030 Goals that underscore Intel’s aim to make technology fully inclusive and to expand digital readiness.

CLAOC is a not-for-profit membership organization of CEOs from some of the region’s most prominent public and private companies who are committed to leading change. CLAOCs mission is to collaborate to cultivate Orange County into a premier, inclusive, innovative talent hub. The group’s organizational priorities include creating an AI Talent Development Center of Excellence to bring together civic and business leaders, AI-focused entrepreneurs, and education organizations to cultivate and recruit the diverse talent needed now and in the future to support a robust AI-driven economy in OC. The AI Talent Development Center of Excellence will be the premier source of talent cultivation, providing OC residents the opportunity to build and flourish in AI-infused careers. Through this strategy, the group hopes to create a well-defined talent pipeline and promote a thriving local economy and environment for the region.

CLAOCs members include Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, EY, City of Hope Orange County, Pacific Life, PIMCO, Skyworks, Golden State Foods, Ingram Micro, and a host of others working strategically to help others succeed.
More information about CLAOC is available at www.claoc.org.

Cainiao

Cainiao Smart Logistics Announces New Container Booking Service

Cainiao Smart Logistics announced the launching of a new container booking service this week. Known as an extension of Alibaba Group, Cainiao’s booking service sets the bar higher for a quick turnaround in booking confirmations, maximizing cost savings, and access to a wider global network of ports and participating countries.

“In the face of the current global container shortage and surging shipping prices, Cainiao is committed to leveraging our technology and logistics ecosystem to provide a one-stop port-to-port shipping solution for exporters and importers,” says James Zhao, General Manager of Cainiao Global Supply Chain.

According to the information released, merchants can expect a booking confirmation just two business days following order placement. Considering the usual turnaround for booking can range from a week to a month, this significantly expedites the process for the industry. Both air and sea freight bookings will be available through the service along with competitive compensation in the event of booking delays and/or missing a departure date.

More than 200 ports in 50 countries are connected through the service including China ports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Yiwu, and more. Additionally, those that utilize the new booking service can enjoy a significant price decrease on a cross-border port-to-port shipping fee, as Cainiao’s fee is reported to be up to 40 percent less than market rates, offsetting the market increase in shipping costs due to the container shortage.

According to the China Container Industry Association (CCIA), the increased turnaround time has some waiting up to 100 days versus 60 days for containers due to the capacity cuts in international markets, specifically in the U.S. and Europe. Pair this with the spike in freight costs, there’s no doubt this new booking service will serve as a reliable solution for the industry.

“By working closely with airlines and cargo companies, we aim to safeguard the entire cross border line haul network and instill greater stability into sea and air freight shipping,” Zhao concluded.