Delaware becomes the first state to join the Open AI Certification Program alongside major employers like Walmart and John Deere.
The certification initiative will allow Delaware students, teachers and workers to demonstrate AI fluency at multiple levels, from basic workplace applications to advanced skills.
State Labor Secretary LaKresha Moultrie says being the first state to partner with Open AI on the program allows Delaware to play a key role in shaping how certifications are rolled out at the community level.
“I’m confident that the state of Delaware will create a model for other states to follow,” she said.
The certification program builds on the OpenAI Academy, which has committed to certifying 10 million Americans in AI skills by 2030.
In the coming months, the Office of Workforce Development will work with schools, colleges and employers to identify pilot sites for certification programming with statewide access at the forefront of its work.
Secretary Moultrie says details have not yet been fleshed out, but she hopes these certifications can enhance resumes, particularly for those who don’t plan to pursue higher education.
“We know that AI is going to have an impact over these next few critical years and the best thing that we can do as labor is assist them and provide them with resources to upskill their workers so that they can use AI confidently and competently,” she said.
The certification announcement comes just months after Gov. Matt Meyer signed a joint resolution creating an AI Sandbox Program, which creates a controlled testing ground for AI technologies to be safely developed and deployed.
The Delaware AI Commission will develop recommendations on the framework of this sandbox to the General Assembly by January 2, and Secretary Moultrie hopes to have the certification program launched by the end of the year.
