Bridging the AI Skill Gap in Pharma: Preparing for the Future

Recently I was asked following questions by group of professionals:

1. What are the current skill gaps in the workforce related to AI in pharma?​

2. How can the pharma industry address these skill gaps?​

3. What new skills will become essential for employees in the age of AI?​

4. How can employees be trained to effectively work with AI technologies in pharma?

To answer these, I have identified five key AI-related skills that the workforce needs to develop. I have also mapped these skills for both business and technical professionals, allowing them to choose what aligns best with their roles.

I couldn’t find a strong Data Strategy for AI course, so I’ll be designing the curriculum myself soon. If you're interested in collaborating, let me know!

1️⃣ Explainable AI (XAI) Specialization – Coursera

This 3-course specialization focuses on explainability techniques and the development of ethical AI models in pharma and healthcare.

🔗 Course Link: Coursera - Explainable AI Specialization

2️⃣ Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) Concepts – DataCamp

This course covers core concepts of explainable AI, including transparency, interpretability, and accountability in AI models.

🔗 Course Link: DataCamp - Explainable AI Concepts

3️⃣ Oxford AI Ethics, Regulation, and Compliance Programme – University of Oxford

This prestigious programme from Oxford provides comprehensive training on AI governance, compliance, and ethical considerations.

🔗 Course Link: Oxford AI Ethics & Compliance

4️⃣ Machine Learning Online Courses – Coursera

Coursera offers a variety of machine learning courses and specializations from top universities like Stanford, MIT, and Google. These courses cover supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and AI implementation strategies.

🔗 Course Link: Coursera - Machine Learning Courses

5️⃣ AI For Everyone – Coursera

Designed by Andrew Ng, this course provides a non-technical introduction to AI, focusing on AI capabilities, limitations, and its implications for business strategy in pharma and beyond. It is ideal for leaders and decision-makers.

🔗 Course Link: Coursera - AI For Everyone

6️⃣ Data Science: Machine Learning – Harvard University

Part of Harvard’s Professional Certificate in Data Science, this course focuses on machine learning algorithms, data analysis, and predictive modeling, essential for AI applications in pharma.

🔗 Course Link: Harvard - Data Science Machine Learning

7️⃣ Human-AI Collaboration: AI For Everyone – Coursera

This course emphasizes collaboration between humans and AI by exploring AI’s role in augmenting human decision-making. It is ideal for pharma professionals looking to effectively integrate AI into their workflows.

🔗 Course Link: Coursera - AI For Everyone

8️⃣ Explainable AI (XAI) Specialization – Coursera

This course is focused on creating transparent AI systems, making AI-driven decisions more understandable and reliable for pharma applications. It helps professionals integrate trustworthy AI models into compliance-driven workflows.

🔗 Course Link: Coursera - Explainable AI Specialization

9️⃣ Human-AI Synergy: Teams & Collaborative Intelligence – Udemy

This course explores how AI and humans can work together to enhance innovation, decision-making, and productivity in collaborative settings.

🔗 Course Link: Udemy - Human-AI Synergy

1️⃣0️⃣ Human-Centered Generative AI – Stanford University

This Stanford course focuses on designing AI systems with a human-centered approach, ensuring AI enhances collaboration, decision-making, and trust.

🔗 Course Link: Stanford - Human-Centered Generative AI

1️⃣1️⃣ Impact Certificate: Human-Centered AI – Tomorrow University

This course delves into ethical AI, decision-making frameworks, and impact-driven AI design. 🔗 Course Link: Tomorrow University - Human-Centered AI

1️⃣2️⃣ Human-Centered AI & Ethics – Georgetown University

This Georgetown program provides a deep dive into responsible AI development and the ethical considerations of AI-human collaboration.

🔗 Course Link: Georgetown - Human-Centered AI & Ethics

I will continue expanding the list with more courses. If you have any sugestions, leave it in the comments.