Agreements have been made by 13 companies to hire graduates of a new course on artificial intelligence run by the Bermuda College.

The first five-week foundation course, delivered in partnership with the Bermuda Clarity Institute, began this month. A second programme is to start today.

Course organisers held a meeting with companies last week to highlight the benefits of taking on graduates of the new technology.

Stuart Lacey, the founder and director of the BCI, said: “We co-hosted an incredible event where we shared the planned future and impact.

“We were thrilled that 13 companies attending signed up to hire a graduate of the foundations course.

“This is part of the new Clarity ‘P-AI It Forward’ campaign for positive impact, helping more Bermudians upskill, enter the workforce and build another pillar around AI and Gen-AI services and support.

“This is the start of our hoped for two-sided win-win process where we have companies supporting and leaning into using these incredible tools and benefits of AI by committing to bring on a Bermuda College graduate who has recently graduated and been certified.

“This also creates a huge incentive for more Bermudians to sign up for the college course, knowing there are jobs waiting upon successful graduation.”

Mr Lacey said it was hoped that more firms across various industries and sizes will sign up to the programme.

He added: “We will be promoting the entire list and recognising all these companies publicly as a way to thank them for their support and for leaning in.

“They can also attend the final ‘pitch’ nights for each cohort graduating class, to meet the graduating class and see their projects work.”

• Any company that wishes to join can sign up athttps://aiintern.paperform.co/