- Innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world — impacting both how we live and how we work. According to research by Goldman Sachs, AI investment is expected to approach $200 billion globally by next year.
We’ve heard throughout this year of "AI-hype" how many organizations are optimizing their processes through big data, robotics, and innovative algorithms — all powered by AI. And how AI will transform many roles, augmenting or automating routine tasks — freeing up our time to focus on higher-value work such as strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership. Organizations continue to evaluate the skillsets and technical capabilities for various job functions, and how those might evolve in the future through the transformative potential of AI.
With shifts in the labor market and a growing demand for employee upskilling (and reskilling), how can test owners capitalize on investments and developments in AI now and over the next few years?
To delve deeper into this area, we interviewed ten of the leading IT and technology companies adopting AI today, to better understand how advancements in AI are affecting the certification and skilling landscape, the opportunities AI presents for certification programs (as well as potential challenges), and where AI might enhance or diminish the need for training and skills validation.
The general sentiment towards the impact of AI on the certification industry is that it will have a positive impact with a significant boost in demand for AI-related skills:
- AI will change the job roles and skills that need to be certified, but the need for validation and certification will remain.
- Some certification programs will become redundant but new titles will compensate for those losses.
- We predict that the balancing of technical and human skills will become more critical than ever, combined with continuous learning and micro-credentials.
New opportunities in AI-related skills
The survey revealed a significant boost in demand for AI, data science, and generative AI skills. Most of the companies we spoke to have already developed new AI certifications and career tracks to meet a growing need for many AI-related skills.
Evolution of certification and skilling
Existing certification programs are poised for evolution. A couple of the companies we spoke to were uncertain about the future impact of AI on their certification programs. But overall, the consensus was that AI will change the job roles and skills that need to be certified, but the need for validation and certification will remain.
Enhancement of testing programs with advancements in AI
AI is revolutionizing assessment development and delivery. The survey respondents reported using AI to create more efficient and effective exams, analyze vast amounts of data to identify knowledge gaps, and tailor assessments to the needs of individuals. Greater personalization will likely lead to more accurate and meaningful evaluations of skills and competencies. The organizations we surveyed are exploring ways to leverage AI in creating new assessment offerings that can then adapt quickly to technological changes. One respondent explained: "AI will help ensure that our certifications stay relevant and empower creative professionals to showcase their unique skillset in a world where AI collaboration is key."
Balancing technology with human skills
As AI capabilities grow, there will be a shift in the types of skills in demand. While the need for basic IT skills may diminish, there will be increased significance placed on more advanced skills in areas such as cybersecurity and AI management. Our respondents highlighted a critical need to train individuals to use AI effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
Continuous learning and micro-credentials
Microlearning and bite-sized courses focused on specific AI features are expected to become popular. AI-powered platforms will likely personalize learning paths by analyzing individual needs and skills gaps, making the certification process more adaptable and authentic. This indicates that certainly over the next few years the volume of certifications delivered by test providers will increase (to fulfill demand), as well as the types of certifications developed.
Addressing potential negative impacts
While some organizations predict a potential decrease in the need for training in basic IT skills, our respondents emphasized the ongoing need for skilled professionals to manage and mitigate potential threats and risks associated with some uses of AI. While there’s an opportunity for increased automation, professionals will need to become skilled in the potential downsides to the widespread use of these tools.
For example, initiatives such as the (US) National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, (aimed at upskilling cybersecurity professionals) are integral to the evolution of our digital landscape. With cyber-criminals having already invested in AI to launch large-scale, targeted cyberattacks against organizations, companies will have to adapt their certification programs to include how AI tools might be manipulated in their fields. As Karim Lakhani, Professor at Harvard Business School, states in The New World of Work, ’‘AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI.’’1
Human skills will adapt to AI-driven environments
As many types of organization continue to prioritize skills like collaboration, creativity, and communication, human skills will remain irreplaceable in AI-driven environments. As one respondent explained: ‘’The benefit of a certification is not in reciting knowledge, it’s in showing the ability to perform and problem-solve, so our items might get more sophisticated, and our tests may look different, but the need will still be there.’’
Looking ahead: a three-phased forecast
Phase 1 (Initial boom): IT companies will lead the charge by adding new AI-related certifications as they upskill and reskill their workforces in 2025. These new offerings will sit beside current certification programs as more AI-centered technologies are developed and adopted, and as new job roles and required skills are defined.
Phase 2 (Transition period): Following the initial boom, a temporary slowdown is anticipated as AI technologies are implemented across other industries. During this period, volume growth in certifications will likely slow as the transition to AI-enabled roles/skills is fulfilled.
Phase 3 (Widespread integration): As AI creates net-new jobs and required competencies within industries outside of IT, entirely new categories of certifiable skills will emerge. This is expected to drive a resurgence in certification growth, sustained over a longer period as various industries stagger their adoption of AI solutions.
The integration of AI will disrupt how people are evaluated for certifications. There are various practical applications of AI that will enable assessments to better mirror real-life scenarios — equipping many types of professional for the challenges they face in their careers. Other industries stand to benefit from the insights gathered from the early adopters of AI — such as how the technology has streamlined the certification process, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
Ethical considerations and regulation
The internet is awash with low-quality, unreliable, and even dangerous content produced with AI tools. While regulatory response to AI has so far been slow in some regions, it’s safe to assume that the “wild west” period of AI will soon come to an end. As AI solutions continue to improve in quality, the extent of regulation remains uncertain. The survey highlighted the need for ongoing collaboration and honest dialogue among key stakeholders to address ethical challenges.
Our survey underscores the importance of adapting to our new reality, equipping professionals with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven future. For certification especially, it’s critical to ensure proper controls are in place, so that assessments remain valid, reliable, and fair in an ever-evolving digital and professional landscape.
Disclaimer: While AI was not used to write this content, we used AI as an assistive tool to structure some of our key findings and insights.
Responsible AI Statement - Pearson VUE
1 Harvard Business Review, August 04, 2023; AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI (hbr.org)