Bermuda may be carving out a pioneering role in developing a workforce fit for purpose with artificial intelligence.

This is the view of an AI educator who has been engaged by the Government to provide specialised training.

Amrita Bhalla, of AB Consulting in Toronto, will again provide online training for those who want to learn skills required for the 21st century, as the Department of Workforce Development reintroduces its AI Education Series 2026 this week.

The virtual training initiative will provide participants with practical, immediately applicable skills to improve productivity, build digital confidence and enhance competitiveness in today’s evolving workplace.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Ms Bhalla said the initiative is one of the reasons she believes Bermuda is ahead of the game and leading Caribbean islands in preparing for future technologies.

The Bermuda Digital Finance Forum this month will provide US dollar stablecoins valued at $100 to qualifying delegates to spend at a related market. Qualifiers must complete a community-based digital payments workshop at the forum.

It is designed to give locals hands-on experience of using digital assets. Last year’s Digital Finance Forum offered a similar “air drop” of digital assets that participants loaded into digital wallets and spent at the market.

Much like digital finance, artificial intelligence continues to reshape the global economy, and there is already evidence that there will be far more of it in the future.

But Ms Bhalla warns that the wary need to embrace the technology or get left behind in what will eventually become a surge towards AI literacy.

She salutes the island for directly tackling the workforce anxiety surrounding new technologies by treating it as a “national” priority.

“Bermuda is really the only jurisdiction in the Caribbean region right now where the government is taking the lead on this upskilling and reskilling initiative,” Ms Bhalla says. “It sets a great example for other jurisdictions.”

The initiative features foundational and intermediate training programmes designed to simplify artificial intelligence for everyday professionals. Delivered virtually in two-hour segments, the interactive courses require participants to complete three modules per level to earn a certificate.

Rather than teaching pure theory, the programme pushes participants to use and experiment with AI in real time.

“Our goal is to help people demystify AI and also get to practise skills in session with us,” Bhalla notes.

Weekly homework assignments encourage attendees to integrate AI into daily life. This ranges from constructing exercise routines and travel itineraries to editing complex corporate documents.

A major focus of the training is mastering prompt engineering. A “prompt” is the command from a user for generative AI to perform a specific task.

“Prompt engineering” is the process of wording the commands in such a way that guides the AI to generate the outputs of information that is sought. Today, prompt engineering is a major talking point for users.

Get it wrong and there is little happiness.

Get it right and you can open up an entire new world of information.

Ms Bhalla explained: “You need to understand what makes a good prompt, and you also need to understand how to make AI like a thought partner.”

She acknowledged the widespread fear of AI, what it could mean for our future and especially the fear of job losses. She recalled it surfaced the last time she presented the programme here.

She noted: “The Industrial Revolution transformed how we worked. The onset of the internet transformed how we work. The onset of AI and the advancement of AI will certainly transform how we work. Do you want to get on the bus and learn the tools, or do you want to get left behind?”

Ms Bhalla pointed out that AI will elevate the importance of irreplaceable human skills, rather than replacing humans.

She said: “This is an incredible opportunity for people to leverage AI and focus more on human skills. Our analysis skills, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence — those are some of the skills that are going to be in higher demand, that we can’t outsource to AI.”

For those who feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of technology development, Ms Bhalla recommended against pursuing every new innovation. Her team dedicates half a day each week to test a core group of four to six reliable, established tools.

She advised: “Get the basics right. Don't be afraid. We want it to feel accessible and empowering.”