The UK will offer free online AI courses to all adults

The UK government is making a big move into AI education. It aims to hook every adult in the country up with free online AI courses. The announcement was made by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. The aim is simple. Help people understand AI. Help them use it at work. And help the economy grow.

This plan is not about turning everyone into a tech expert. It is about everyday skills. Skills people can use right away. Skills that make work easier and faster.

The courses are built to be short and flexible. Some lessons will take just 20 minutes. That means you can learn during a break or after work. You do not need a long schedule. You do not need a tech background.

The focus is on practical use. People will learn how to use AI to write and edit text. They will see how AI can help create simple digital content. They will also learn how it can handle basic admin tasks. These are things many people do every day.

By letting AI take care of routine work, people can focus on what matters more. Thinking. Planning. Creating. The government believes this can make work feel less stressful and more productive.

AI is already changing how many jobs work. The government wants workers to be ready, not worried. Free training removes a big barrier. Anyone can join. Anyone can learn.

This approach is meant to support small businesses, too. When workers know how to use AI tools, companies can move faster. They can save time. They can compete better. The message is clear. AI should help people, not confuse them.

The UK government's not done yet. They want to train 10 million folks in basic AI skills by 2030—that's a third of the workforce. Big swing, sure, but officials reckon it's gotta happen.

To guide this shift, a new group called “AI and the Future of Work” is being set up. It will examine the impact on jobs and inform the development of future policy.

These initiatives, it is estimated, have the potential to contribute up to £140 billion to the economy. But more importantly, it will help people feel confident about the future, which will be shaped by AI.