A global AI education initiative has returned for its 2026 edition, aiming to expand access to artificial intelligence training for women across multiple countries through a fully online learning program. The program Founderz runs in partnership with Microsoft is designed to help bridge the gender gap in the tech industry, where women remain significantly underrepresented in roles related to artificial intelligence and research.
The initiative offers free AI training in over 13 languages, allowing participants to learn without requiring any prior technical background. The course covers foundational AI knowledge as well as practical applications across industries such as healthcare, finance, education, and business.
The 2025 edition of the program recorded strong participation, with more than 57,000 women trained across over 30 countries. Participants also developed hundreds of AI-based projects, showing strong engagement and practical learning outcomes. A portion of participants were awarded scholarships to continue advanced studies in AI and innovation-focused programs, highlighting the initiative’s role in long-term skill development.
The training model focuses on three main ideas, making education accessible without barriers, using technology to support learning at scale, and collaborating with global organizations to expand reach. The program is fully online and designed to be flexible, allowing participants to learn at their own pace while applying AI concepts to real-world situations.
Despite growing demand for AI skills globally, women still represent a smaller percentage of professionals in the field. However, demand for AI literacy continues to rise across industries, with employers increasingly prioritizing digital and machine learning skills. Initiatives like this are helping close that gap by making AI education more accessible and practical for beginners.
The return of this AI training program highlights a broader shift toward inclusive tech education. As artificial intelligence continues to expand globally, programs like this are helping more people, especially women, gain access to skills needed in the future digital economy.
