20,000 Registered So Far: Lebanon Prepares to Train One Million People in Artificial Intelligence

The UAE-led initiative aimed at training one million Lebanese people in the use of artificial intelligence opens a wide door for expanding digital skills in Lebanon, at a time when the country faces economic challenges, ongoing brain drain, and an urgent need to develop the business environment and create new job opportunities.

Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Affairs, Kamal Chehade, views the initiative as an opportunity to empower Lebanese people to use AI tools in their daily lives and work. He reveals that approximately 20,000 Lebanese men and women have registered so far in programs available through the ministry's "Numu" platform, while the broader goal is to train one million people within four or five years.

Chehade states that the basic training is simple and does not require specialized technical knowledge, as anyone can dedicate four hours to learn the principles of using AI and benefit from them. He adds: "Training is available to any Lebanese person who wants to progress and learn. There are no restrictions or conditions."

According to the minister, Lebanon ranks fifth regionally in AI usage, while Microsoft Index data indicates that 27 percent of Lebanese people use these technologies. He explains that if one million trained users are added over five years, nearly half of the Lebanese population could become capable of using AI, perhaps even more.

The programs the ministry is working on are not limited to a specific category but include students from public and private schools, universities, and employees. The goal is not only to introduce participants to the tools but also to help them employ them in work, content production, and solutions. Chehade affirms: "We want the use of AI to be accessible to all Lebanese people, and not limited to a certain group or those with a specific educational or technical level."

The training is based on general principles applicable to various AI platforms, given the similarity in command-giving methods and interaction with tools, although some details differ from one platform to another.

However, Chehade acknowledges that training alone is not enough to address the migration of talents. Convincing Lebanese people to stay, according to him, requires political and security stability, the rule of law, effective courts, public administration that facilitates citizens' access to their rights, along with an encouraging environment for investment and job creation. He says: "We must improve the business environment in all aspects, so that Lebanese people can remain in Lebanon and establish their companies there."

At the same time, he stresses that training in using or programming AI, and other digital skills, will become essential for various professions practiced by individuals, whether they work inside Lebanon or abroad. Hence, the importance of the initiative is not limited to addressing the migration problem but also includes providing Lebanese people with skills they need in a rapidly changing labor market.

The ministry considers the initiative the beginning of a path followed by deeper and more specialized training. In a later stage, and when funding is available, it seeks to connect specialists and engineers with the labor market, in cooperation with the ministries of Labor and Economy, chambers of commerce and industry, and civil society institutions.

Although the initiative primarily targets Lebanese people, Chehade sees no objection to non-Lebanese residents benefiting from it, stating: "Our duty is to provide training to every person residing in Lebanon."

He concludes that the goal goes beyond achieving the figure of one million, extending to spreading AI culture and moving from mere usage to leveraging it for production, innovation, and creating new opportunities.