UK Launches Free AI Training For Every Adult

On January 28, 2026, the United Kingdom took a bold leap into the future by launching a sweeping initiative to provide every adult in the nation with free artificial intelligence (AI) training. The move, hailed as one of the most ambitious upskilling drives in modern British history, is designed to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change and position the UK as a global leader in AI adoption.

Spearheaded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the initiative offers a series of practical, accessible courses through the government’s upgraded AI Skills Hub website. The goal? To upskill 10 million workers by 2030, unlocking as much as £140 billion in annual economic value and ensuring that no one is left behind as AI transforms the world of work. As reported by Sky News, the courses are available to all adults, with some taking as little as 20 minutes to complete and others stretching up to nine hours.

The programme is a collaborative effort between the government and a veritable who’s who of the tech industry. Major companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Accenture have all played a role in designing the curriculum. According to BBC News, 14 free modules have been developed, covering everything from mastering AI prompts and using chatbots to automating administrative tasks and driving business innovation. For those who finish the courses, a government-backed AI Foundations badge awaits—a virtual credential designed to assure employers of their new skills.

“We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI,” said Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, as quoted by The Independent. “Change is inevitable, but the consequences of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone can share in its benefits. That starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities AI brings, putting the power and control into their hands.”

For many, the training has already proven transformative. Tracey Kasongo, founder of 20 MGMT—a UK management consultancy—shared with Sky News how the courses helped her quickly build confidence in using AI: “Being able to do a programme like that really fast-tracked me to learning and building skills in AI, and then applying it to the business. It helped us use the systems to create more efficient workflows and processes.”

Zunera Diwan, founder of Money Circuit, echoed those sentiments. “Before, I was sceptical and only really used it like a search engine,” she told Sky News. “Now I use AI for invoicing, contracts and creating policies. It’s saved me four or five hours a week, which I can put back into growing the business or looking after my wellbeing.”

Despite these success stories, the government faces a significant challenge in encouraging widespread adoption. Research published alongside the initiative’s launch reveals that only 21% of UK workers currently feel confident using AI in their jobs, and just one in six businesses are making use of the technology. The gap is especially pronounced among smaller firms, with microbusinesses 45% less likely to adopt AI than larger organisations, according to The Independent.

To address this, the government is working closely with industry bodies, public sector employers, and trade unions. The NHS, the British Chambers of Commerce, and the Local Government Association are all encouraging their staff and members to take advantage of the free courses. The ambition is to reach 10 million workers by the end of the decade, including at least 2 million from small and medium-sized enterprises.

The training is designed to be as practical and accessible as possible. Most courses are bite-sized, fully online, and focus on real-world applications—drafting text, creating content, analysing information, and streamlining repetitive tasks. As BBC News notes, some lessons are free, while others are subsidised, and all are benchmarked against Skills England’s new AI foundation skills standard to ensure quality and relevance.

Sharron Gunn, head of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, welcomed the move but cautioned that responsibility for upskilling should not rest solely on individual workers. “Alongside dedicated AI professionals, with degrees in computer science or digital apprenticeships, UK businesses of all sizes need their teams to have a benchmarked level of AI skills,” she told BBC News. “We also need to see far greater understanding of technology at board level, so those involved in governance of organisations, who are often giving their time unpaid, have the knowledge and confidence to scrutinise executive decisions.”

Not everyone is convinced that short courses alone are enough. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has warned that workers will need more than just technical know-how to thrive in an AI-driven workplace. “Skills for the age of AI can’t be reduced to short technical courses alone,” said Roa Powell, senior research fellow at the IPPR, as reported by BBC News. “Workers also need support to build judgement, critical thinking, physical skills, leadership and the confidence to use these tools safely.”

To ensure the nation’s workforce is prepared for the future, the government has also launched a new AI and the Future of Work Unit, backed by experts from business and trade unions. This unit is tasked with monitoring how AI is reshaping jobs, wages, and productivity—and with making sure policy keeps pace with technological change. The mission is clear: help workers adapt, protect communities from disruption, and ensure that AI-driven growth leads to better, more secure jobs for everyone.

Additional investments are being made to support the strategy. The government has injected £27 million into the TechLocal scheme, part of the wider £187 million TechFirst programme, supporting up to 1,000 new tech jobs nationwide. Applications have also opened for the Spärck AI Scholarship at nine UK universities, offering up to 100 postgraduate AI and STEM students full tuition, living support, mentorship, and industry placements.

Since the launch of the upgraded AI Skills Hub in summer 2025, more than one million courses have already been completed, a figure that underscores both the appetite for and the necessity of practical, flexible learning opportunities. The government’s hope is that, by equipping people with the skills and confidence to use AI, Britain can unlock a new era of productivity, innovation, and opportunity—while ensuring that workers, not just machines, reap the rewards of technological progress.

As the UK moves boldly into the AI era, the coming years will reveal whether this ambitious national upskilling effort can truly bridge the confidence gap and help millions not just survive, but thrive, in the workplace of tomorrow.