In a move aimed at advancing the telecom industry into the era of artificial intelligence (AI), GSMA and IBM (News - Alert) announced a new collaboration that will feature two key initiatives: the GSMA Advance's AI Training program and the GSMA Foundry Generative AI program.
The new programs are designed to equip telecom leaders with the essential skills and knowledge they need to harness the power of generative AI. This will help foster innovation while also addressing industry-specific challenges.
With the AI Training program, telecom leaders get access to a comprehensive array of topics, from fundamental AI principles to specialized applications within the telecom sector. Leveraging IBM's watsonx, an AI and data platform with AI assistants, the training sessions will take place at IBM offices across five global locations, including Dubai, London, Mexico, New York, and Seoul. There will also be an online training program in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for a broader audience.
In addition to the training, the GSMA (News - Alert) Foundry Generative AI program will offer GSMA members exclusive access to IBM's watsonx platform. With this, telecom industry players can explore innovative, industry-specific use cases of generative AI- with a key focus on improving cost leadership, revenue growth, and enhancing customer experiences.
"Generative AI can create massive opportunities for communication service providers as they look to optimize current processes, and like the GSMA, our goal is to offer this technology within the industry, which we're making possible through watsonx," said Stephen Rose, GM, Global Industries at IBM.
GSMA Intelligence research revealed that while 56% of operators are actively trialing generative AI solutions, adoption is less prevalent among mid-sized and smaller operators. The joint effort by GSMA and IBM aims to bridge this gap in AI skills, training, and tools, aligning with GSMA's commitment to operators of all sizes worldwide.
"Artificial Intelligence provides the telecoms industry, and the societies it serves, with huge opportunities to launch new services, and improve connectivity and customer experience. Overall, it's estimated that AI could contribute $15.7 trillion1 to the global economy by 2030," said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer at the GSMA. "However, it's critical that AI is democratized to ensure that all parts of the connectivity industry and their customers, wherever they are in the world, benefit. Bringing operators access to AI tools and knowledge, alongside the necessary skills, access and training, is key to achieving this."
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
