What are “AI academies”

A simple explanation of AI academies and why they’re emerging.

AI academies are structured training programmes designed to help people learn how to work with AI tools and systems. They’re often set up by organisations, governments, or educational institutions to build practical skills.

Instead of learning purely through experience in entry-level roles, these programmes focus on how to use AI effectively, interpret outputs, and apply judgment in real situations.

They’re becoming more common as AI starts to change the types of tasks people are expected to do. If routine work is increasingly automated, there’s more emphasis on understanding how to manage and work alongside AI systems.

The aim is to speed up learning, but it also shifts how experience is built.

Which raises a bigger question: if learning becomes more structured, what replaces learning by doing?