Generative AI: now one of the most in-demand tech skills globally

The explosion of interest in generative AI tools following the release of ChatGPT in November has seen a bump in interest in artificial intelligence skills across the board.

That’s according to the online training platform Udemy, which reported a 4,419% increase in consumption of course information resources related to ChatGPT in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the last quarter of 2022.

Courses on other AI-related skills have also surged in interest - Azure Machine Learning (+281%), Ai art generation (+239%), both also making it into the top 10 global in-demand tech skills for workplace training.

Source: Udemy Global Workplace Learning Index

"ChatGPT and generative AI are truly revolutionizing the way the world will work in the future as we're just starting to uncover its use cases -- in research, content creation, branding, marketing, productivity, e-commerce and so much more,” says Udemy instructor Diego Davila.

“Having a comprehensive understanding of ChatGPT and other emerging AI technologies will be imperative to quickly pivot in today’s era of rapid digital transformation.”

When it comes to ChatGPT, the main area of skill development is in learning how AI prompt engineering tools can be used across a range of roles, including in software architecture and development.

While the US, home to OpenAI, the San Francisco-based creator of ChatGPT, has seen the biggest increase in demand for ChatGPT skills, Canada and Argentina also saw AI skills rank highly, according to Udemy’s Global Workplace Learning Index.

New Zealand was not among the 15 countries included in the report, but Australia’s in-demand skills suggest the ChatGPT hype is yet to rub off to the same extent locally.

It’s most in-demand skills relate to data analytics, though a suite of courses under the CompTIA+ banner are experiencing increase demand and cover a range of AI topics.

But before you resign yourself to booking a ChatGPT prompt engineering course, take heart from the World Economic Forum, which puts "soft" skills like communication, creativity and collaboration at the top of its list of mush-have skills needed in 2023, according to its Future of Jobs 2023 report.

"There's more of a focus and an interest in having people with analytical thinking, people with creativity," Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum said.

"But it's also become very important to have leadership skills and to have social influence, and the ability to work with other people. The traits that make us human, make us able to relate with each other and to get innovative, creative things done in the workplace."

While the World Economic Forum estimates that 44% of workers core skills are expected to change in the next five years, analytical thinking trumps all else when it comes to what employers want their staff to possess - more than any AI training.