Ja’s AI skills push must measure workplace results

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Jamaica’s AI-skilling drive should be judged by whether or not it changes how people work, not by how many certificates it issues.

The Government’s GAINS programme promises AI certification and employment pathways across all 63 constituencies. Industry leaders also argue that AI can strengthen Jamaica’s global-services sector rather than simply replace workers. Those goals are sound, but training must move beyond generic tool demonstrations.

Recent Gallup findings show the gap: many workers report personal productivity gains from AI, while far fewer see their organisations transform how work gets done. Jamaica can avoid that trap by pairing each course with a real workplace process. Trainees should map a task, redesign it with AI, test the output, measure time and quality, and document where human judgement remains essential.

Employers should then report whether projects improved service, reduced rework, created advancement opportunities, or produced new roles. That evidence would help public funding flow toward programmes that generate durable value.

Jamaica has an opportunity to build an inclusive AI economy. Workflow apprenticeships, rather than certificate counts alone, will show whether or not that promise reaches workers and communities.

GLEB TSIPURSKY

Columbus, Ohio, USA

gleb@disasteravoidanceexperts.com