AI Competency Framework for Organizations: Building AI Readiness & Skills
DI has developed a new competency framework for AI skills across disciplines and levels and sectors with a focus on small and medium organizations to provide:
- A consistent approach to skill development and assessment
- Clear skills definitions for individuals to perform effectively in their roles
- A practical roadmap to learn about AI
Who is this for?
Canadian employers and employees
Specific to the Canadian job market with attention to equity deserving groups
Framework Development Process
Drawing on research from surveys, labour market information and emerging trends
Based on consultations with industry experts, educational institutions, and employers
Snapshot of existing AI-related education and training at different levels for different audiences.
Designed to be continuously updated through crowdsourcing of additional resources
Three Levels of AI Competency Framework
▉ Deep AI Skills
- Knowledge of AI development frameworks and machine-learning models
- Advanced knowledge of AI applications in specific fields
- Deep understanding of ethical AI development, ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability in AI systems; and managing risks such as data breaches or ethical dilemmas
▉ Mid-level AI Skills
- Understanding how AI is used in different industries, such as AI-powered chatbots and recommendation systems
- Competence in using generative AI technologies like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot for content generation, analysis and problem-solving
- Mid-level expertise in working with datasets
▉ Basic AI literacy
- Knowledge of core AI concepts, including machine learning, deep learning, and supervised, semi-supervised and unsupervised machine learning
- Familiarity with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and others
- AI in the value chain
- Awareness of key ethical considerations, such as bias and privacy
Examples of Learning Pathways
This AI learning process provides a structured path for individuals to develop AI competencies based on their roles and goals:
STEP 1
Build a Strong Foundation
Take the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Canadian SMEs and the Adopting responsible AI in the workplace: Reaping the benefits and managing the risks of AI courses offered by the Diversity Institute (DI) to gain:
- Knowledge of Core AI Concepts (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI)
- Business Applications of AI (AI in the Value Chain, SME use cases)
- Responsible AI Practices (Bias mitigation, data privacy, ethical AI)
STEP 2
Choose Your Path
There are many training resources available that are technical and tailored to specialist roles and specific fields. This tool is focused on supporting upskilling for basic and mid-level AI competency development. Courses and resources for basic AI literacy and Mid-level AI skills are included below.
Select the AI literacy level that best suits you and continue learning with targeted courses:
PATH 1 – Basic AI Literacy
PATH 2 – Mid-level AI Skills
The courses linked below are grouped by the specialized learning path levels, and where possible, also grouped by provider. The course options may be paid, free, or auditable courses.
AI Fundamentals
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI For Everyone, by DeepLearning.AI (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI for Good Specialization, by DeepLearning.AI (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Intro to Artificial Intelligence, by Udacity (Udacity) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Prompt Engineering Tutorial – Master ChatGPT and LLM Responses, by freeCodeCamp.org (YouTube) | ✓ | ||
| AI Infrastructure and Operations Fundamentals, by Nvidia (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Text generation and prompting, by OpenAI Platform (OpenAI Platform) | ✓ | ||
| AI Agents Fundamentals In 21 Minutes, by Tina Huang (YouTube) | ✓ | ||
| Generative AI for Business Leaders, by Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ethics in the Age of Generative AI, by McGovern Foundation (LinkedIn Learning) | ✓ |
Amazon Web Services
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Machine Learning: Art of the Possible, by Amazon Web Services (AWS Training and Certification) | ✓ | ||
| Introduction to Generative AI - Art of the Possible, by Amazon Web Services (AWS Training and Certification) | ✓ | ||
| Machine Learning Terminology and Process, by Amazon Web Services (AWS Training and Certification) | ✓ | ||
| Amazon Web Services Artificial Intelligence Practitioner Learning Plan, by Amazon Web Services (AWS Training and Certification) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Generative AI, by Google (Google Cloud) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Google's 8 Hour AI Essentials Course In 15 Minutes, by Tina Huang (YouTube) | ✓ | ||
| Google's 9 Hour AI Prompt Engineering Course In 20 Minutes, by Tina Huang (YouTube) | ✓ | ||
| Digital Transformation Using AI/ML with Google Cloud Specialization, by Google (Coursera) | |||
| Google Cloud Tech, by Google (YouTube) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI-Powered Shopping ads Certification, by Google (Google Skillshop) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-Powered Performance Ads Certification, by Google (Google Skillshop) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google AI Essentials Specialization, by Google (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Google Prompting Essentials Specialization, by Google (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ |
IBM
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM AI Fundamentals Learning Plan, by IBM (SkillsBuild) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python for Data Science, AI & Development, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| IBM AI Product Manager Professional Certificate, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| IBM AI Foundations for Business Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI: Foundation Models and Platforms, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Business Consultants Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Impact, Ethics, and Issues with Generative AI, by IBM (edX) | ✓ |
Microsoft
Post-secondary Institutions
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT, by Vanderbilt University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python, by Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (edX) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Introduction to Deep Learning, by MIT (YouTube) | ✓ | ||
| Machine Learning for All, by University of London (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| University of Maryland Global Campus AI Foundations Certificate, by University of Maryland (UMGC) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI for Creative Work Specialization, by University of Michigan (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI in Healthcare Specialization, by Stanford University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI For Business Specialization, by University of Pennsylvania (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI Product Management Specialization, by Duke University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Marketing, by University of Virginia Darden School of Business (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Amity Online AI & Deep Learning, by Amity University Online (Amity University Online) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Human Factors in AI, by Duke University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI & Law, by Lund University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Societal Challenges, by Lund University (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI and Society: Ethics and Impact, by University of British Columbia (UBC) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI Ethics for Professionals, by Davidson College (edX) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI, Empathy & Ethics, by University of California Santa Cruz (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Large Language Models, by Google (Google Cloud) | ✓ | ||
| Introduction to AI Image Generation, by Google (Google Cloud) | ✓ | ||
| Gemini and the Software Development Cycle, by Google (Google Cloud) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Machine Learning Crash Course, by Google (Google) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Generative AI Leader certification exam, by Google (Google Cloud) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path Specialization, by Google (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Gen AI for Developers, by Google Cloud (YouTube) | ✓ | ✓ |
IBM
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generative AI for Data Scientists Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Data Analysts Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| IBM Generative AI for Cybersecurity Professionals Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Project Managers Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Software Developers Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Data Engineers Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Executives and Business Leaders Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Human Resources (HR) Professionals Specialization, by IBM (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ |
DeepLearning.AI
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers, by DeepLearning.AI (DeepLearning.AI) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Machine Learning Specialization, by DeepLearning.AI (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Generative AI for Software Development Skill Certificate, by DeepLearning.AI (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI for Medicine Specialization, by Deeplearning.ai (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| "Deep Learning Specialization" by Andrew Ng, by Deeplearning.ai (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Natural Language Processing Specialization, by Deeplearning.ai (Coursera) | ✓ | ✓ |
Post-secondary Institutions
| Course | Free | Certificate | More than 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Essentials for Business, by Harvard Business School (Harvard Business School Online) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python, by Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (edX) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence for Digital Marketing & Communications, by Humber Polytechnic (Humber) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Northwestern University AI Certificate, by Northwestern School of Professional Studies (Northwestern School of Professional Studies) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| University of South Florida AI Certificate, by University of South Florida (USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Harvard Extension AI Certificate, by Harvard Extension School (Harvard Extension School) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Artificial Intelligence for Robotics, by Stanford - Udacity (Udacity) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Practical Utilization of AI for Marketing and Communications, by Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University (Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Practical Utilization of AI for Project Management, by Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University (Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Practical Utilization of AI for Manufacturing, by Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University (Digital Nova Scotia & St. Francis Xavier University) | ✓ | ✓ |
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