Free artificial intelligence training is being made available to everyone in the UK as the government steps up efforts to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change.

随着政府加大力度，助力劳动力队伍为快速的技术变革做好准备，英国正面向全民推出免费的人工智能培训。

However, ministers acknowledge the programme will only succeed if businesses and workers choose to adopt it.

不过，部长们承认，只有企业和员工选择接受这一培训，该计划才能取得成功。

From today, adults can access short, practical courses through the government's upgraded AI Skills Hub, designed to help people use AI tools in the workplace.

从今天起，成年人可以通过政府升级后的人工智能技能中心参加短期实践课程， 该中心旨在帮助人们在职场中运用人工智能工具。

The training covers everyday tasks such as drafting text, creating content, and automating administrative work - with some courses taking less than 20 minutes to complete.

培训内容涵盖日常任务，如起草文本、 创作内容以及自动化行政工作等，部分课程不到20分钟即可完成。

The programme is a joint effort between government and major tech firms, including Google, Microsoft and IBM, and has already delivered more than one million courses since last summer.

该计划由政府与谷歌、微软和IBM等科技巨头共同推进， 自去年夏天以来，已提供超过100万门课程。

For some small business owners, the training has already had a tangible difference.

对于一些小企业主而言，该培训已产生了实实在在的影响。

Tracey Kasongo, founder of 20 MGMT, a UK company involved in management consultancy, video production, and sound recording, said the courses helped her quickly build confidence in using AI.

英国20 MGMT公司创始人特蕾西·卡松戈表示，该公司从事管理咨询、视频制作和录音业务， 这些课程帮助她迅速树立了使用人工智能的信心。

"Being able to do a programme like that really fast-tracked me to learning and building skills in AI, and then applying it to the business," she said.

她说：“能够参加这样的课程，让我快速掌握了人工智能相关知识和技能，并将其应用到业务中。”

"It helped us use the systems to create more efficient workflows and processes."

“它帮助我们利用这些系统创建更高效的工作流程和程序。”

Zunera Diwan, business founder of Money Circuit, a financial decision-making consultancy, said learning how to use AI properly transformed how she ran her business.

金融决策咨询公司Money Circuit的创始人祖内拉·迪万表示， 学会正确使用人工智能彻底改变了她的经营方式。

"Before, I was sceptical and only really used it like a search engine," she said.

她说：“以前，我对此持怀疑态度，只是把它当作搜索引擎来用。”

"Now I use AI for invoicing, contracts and creating policies. It's saved me four or five hours a week, which I can put back into growing the business or looking after my wellbeing."

“现在，我用人工智能处理发票、合同和制定政策。 这每周为我节省了四到五个小时的时间，我可以利用这些时间拓展业务或关注自身健康。”

Despite those examples, uptake remains a challenge.

尽管有这些成功案例，但推广培训仍面临挑战。

Research published alongside the announcement shows only 21% of UK workers feel confident using AI at work, while just one in six businesses currently use the technology.

与公告一同发布的研究显示，只有21%的英国员工对在工作中使用人工智能感到自信， 而目前只有六分之一的企业使用该技术。

Ministers argue that improving skills and adoption could unlock up to £140bn a year in economic growth, while freeing workers from routine tasks and creating more high-skilled roles.

部长们认为，提升技能和普及应用有望每年释放高达1400亿英镑的经济增长潜力， 同时让员工从日常任务中解脱出来，创造更多高技能岗位。

'We want to make AI work for Britain'

“我们希望人工智能为英国服务”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the government's aim was to ensure people benefit from AI rather than being left behind by it.

科技大臣利兹·肯德尔表示，政府的目标是确保人们从人工智能中受益，而非被其抛下。

"We want to make AI work for Britain, and that means Britons who can work with AI," she said. "We're announcing a big, bold goal of upskilling 10 million workers in AI skills by 2030.

她说：“我们希望人工智能为英国服务，这意味着英国人要能够与人工智能共事。 我们宣布了一项宏伟目标，即到2030年让1000万员工掌握人工智能技能。”

"We're working closely with companies, the NHS and local government to make sure people from all walks of life have the skills they need, because that's better for them, their families and the future of the country."

“我们正与公司、英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）和地方政府紧密合作，确保各行各业的人都能掌握所需技能， 因为这对他们、他们的家庭以及国家的未来都更有利。”

Those who complete the courses will receive a government-backed AI foundations badge, intended to give employers confidence that staff have basic, recognised AI skills.

完成课程者将获得政府支持的人工智能基础徽章，旨在让雇主确信员工具备基本、 公认的人工智能技能。

Ministers insist the technology should support workers rather than replace them, but concerns remain about the pace of change and the risks of job displacement.

部长们坚称，该技术应辅助员工而非取代他们， 但人们仍对变革的速度和岗位流失的风险感到担忧。

The challenge now is whether businesses will invest the time and resources to encourage staff to train, and whether workers will take up the opportunity.

现在面临的挑战是，企业是否会投入时间和资源鼓励员工参加培训， 以及员工是否会抓住这一机会。