London's £18M AI Boost: Powering Youth Jobs and Future Skills!

London's mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, has announced a new £18 million plan to help young people in the city prepare for the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the job market. This announcement was made during London Tech Week, where the mayor spoke about the importance of making sure Londoners are ready for the future. The plan follows recommendations from the AI and Jobs Taskforce, a group of experts led by Baroness Martha Lane-Fox. The taskforce believes that London should take action now to shape how AI affects jobs, instead of waiting for problems to happen.

AI is starting to do many tasks that used to be done by people, especially jobs that involve a lot of paperwork or writing. Because of this, companies in London are finding it harder to hire workers with the right skills. A recent survey of over 2,000 business leaders found that only half of their employees have the skills needed for their jobs, which is a drop from last year. More than three-quarters of these business leaders think they will need more workers with AI and digital skills in the next five years. The taskforce has suggested several steps, including creating a city-wide careers and skills service, setting up a dashboard to track how AI is affecting jobs, and letting employers help design training programs. They also want the government to change the rules about funding for skills and adult learning.

Sir Sadiq Khan has agreed to take three main actions. First, he will create an early-warning system to spot when AI is changing jobs, so people can prepare. Second, he will bring together employers, workers, and educators to talk about how jobs are changing and how to help people learn new skills. Third, he will start a program to match young Londoners with employers, so they can learn about new careers. The mayor also announced £18 million to help young people who are not in education, work, or training, including £10. 5 million to extend a program for about 6,000 people. The taskforce also wants the mayor to talk to the government about giving London more control over skills policy. Sir Sadiq Khan said that the debate about AI is too divided, with some people thinking it will solve everything and others worrying about mass unemployment. He believes that Londoners need to be prepared for the future, and that the city should lead the way in making sure people have the skills they need. Baroness Lane-Fox warned that if London does not act, there could be fewer entry-level jobs and more inequality. Adam Cantwell-Corn, a member of the taskforce, said that workers should be involved in decisions about how AI changes their jobs.