How can you stay competitive and relevant in an AI-Driven World?
In a world where AI tools evolve weekly and yesterday's skills can feel obsolete overnight, this blog offers a grounded, human-first guide for cloud and technology professionals who want to stay ahead not by chasing every trend, but by building the right foundations. Across six core themes, the post walks readers through understanding what AI truly changes in the workplace, committing to deliberate and structured learning through platforms like Microsoft Learn, getting hands-on with real Azure AI projects beyond just certifications, and doubling down on the human skills critical thinking, communication, and ethical judgment that AI simply cannot replicate. The blog also makes the case for community and network as a long-term career asset, and closes with a call to develop an AI mindset rooted in curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment and share openly. Whether you're a cloud architect, a security professional preparing for AZ-500 or SC-200, or simply someone navigating what this AI shift means for your career this post is written for you. Key Takeaways for Readers: Understand AI's real impact · Build a deliberate learning habit · Go hands-on with Azure AI tools · Strengthen human skills · Invest in community · Cultivate an AI-first mindsetNew Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification
As a data engineer, you understand that AI performance depends directly on the quality of its data. If the data isn’t clean, well-managed, and accessible at scale, even the most sophisticated AI models won’t perform as expected. Introducing the Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification, designed to prove that you have the skills required to build and operate reliable data systems by using Azure Databricks. To earn the Certification, you need to pass Exam DP-750: Implementing Data Engineering Solutions Using Azure Databricks, currently in beta. Is this Certification right for you? This Certification offers you the opportunity to prove your skills and validate your expertise in the following areas: Core technical skills Ingesting, transforming, and modeling data using SQL and Python Building production data pipelines on Azure Databricks Implementing software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices with Git-based workflows Integrating Azure Databricks with key Microsoft services, such as Azure Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault, and Microsoft Entra ID Governance and security Securing and governing data with Unity Catalog and Microsoft Purview Applying workspace, cluster, and data-level security best practices Performance and reliability Optimizing compute, caching, partitioning, and Delta Lake design patterns Troubleshooting and resolving issues with jobs and pipelines Managing workloads across development, staging, and production For engineers already familiar with Azure Databricks, this Certification bridges the gap between general Azure Databricks skills and the Azure‑specific architecture, security, and operational patterns that employers increasingly expect. Ready to prove your skills? The first 300 candidates can save 80% Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam DP-750 (beta) on or before April 2, 2026, can get 80% off. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code DP750Deltona. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before April 2, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. How to prepare Get ready to take Exam DP-750 (beta): Review the Exam DP-750 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam DP-750 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Work through the Plan on Microsoft Learn: Get Exam‑Ready for DP‑750: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. Interested in unlocking more Azure Databricks expertise? Grow your skills and take the next step by exploring Databricks credentials and show what you can do with Azure Databricks. Ready to get started? Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% Exam DP-750 (beta) with code DP750Deltona on or before April 2, 2026. Beta exam rescoring begins when the exam goes live, with final results released approximately 10 days later. For more details, read Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in early May 2026. Get involved: Help shape future Microsoft Credentials Join our Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials on LinkedIn for beta exam alerts and opportunities to help shape future Microsoft learning and assessments. Additional information For more cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Explore Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.New Certification for machine learning operations (MLOps) engineers
Do your co-workers rely on you to deploy, operationalize, and maintain machine learning and generative AI solutions in production? Are you working at the intersection of data science, DevOps, and generative AI? If so, the Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate Certification is designed for you. This Certification validates your ability to operationalize not only traditional machine learning but also generative AI solutions on Azure, reflecting how AI roles have evolved from model experimentation to enterprise-scale AI operations. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AI-300: Operationalizing Machine Learning and Generative AI solutions, currently in beta. Key skills validated by this Certification To earn the MLOps engineer Certification, you must demonstrate your ability to: Design and implement secure, scalable MLOps infrastructure. Automate resource provisioning and deployments by using GitHub Actions, Bicep, and Azure CLI. Orchestrate training, manage model registration and versioning, and monitor production models. Deploy and operationalize generative AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry. Implement quality assurance, observability, and safety evaluations for generative AI systems. Optimize retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and fine-tuned models for performance, accuracy, and cost efficiency. This Certification replaces the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification (Exam DP-100), which is retiring on June 1, 2026, and reflects the evolution of AI in the enterprise. Exam DP-100 focused on validating your ability to design and implement data science solutions, including data exploration, model training, evaluation, and deployment. Exam AI-300 expands the scope significantly. It retains training and evaluation but places much stronger emphasis on validating your knowledge and experience in automation, infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), lifecycle governance, observability, drift detection, cost control, and the operationalization of generative AI systems. For more details on the retirement of Exam DP-100, and the latest cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Skill area Exam AI-300 (new) Exam DP-100 (old) MLOps infrastructure Full CI/CD, IaC (Bicep, Azure CLI), GitHub Actions Basic workspace and compute setup Model lifecycle management Core focus, including registration, versioning, rollout/rollback, monitoring Full lifecycle from training to deployment GenAIOps infrastructure End-to-end lifecycle, including security, automation, and model management with Foundry Basic generative AI setup and experimentation QA and observability Generative AI evaluation, tracing, safety metrics, drift detection, cost monitoring Model evaluation and responsible AI principles Generative AI performance optimization RAG optimization, embedding model selection and tuning, advanced fine-tuning, synthetic data management Basic prompt engineering and fine-tuning Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AI-300 (beta) on or before April 2, 2026, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AI300Meridian. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before April 2, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AI-300 (beta): Review the Exam AI-300 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AI-300 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth instructor-led training? We’re creating new instructor-led training that will be released in late March 2026. Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? You can take certification exams online, from home or the office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% off Exam AI-300 (beta) with code AI300Meridian on or before April 2, 2026. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in May 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.Use AI to build AI, without losing your mind
with Maddy Montaquila, Lead PM for Aspire This is not just another AI discussion. This is a session for developers, architects, cloud engineers, and tech professionals who want to understand how AI can truly support modern software development, not create more confusion. We will explore how the right abstractions, strong defaults, and smart guardrails can help AI become a real accelerator for building applications. You will discover how agentic AI is changing the developer experience, how coding agents can help you move faster while staying in control, how Aspire supports building agentic applications, and how to avoid AI overload while staying focused on shipping real software. You will also learn how Microsoft Learn can support your continued journey in AI, cloud, and modern application development. 📢 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow with the Microsoft Zero to Hero community. Register Here: https://streamyard.com/watch/5T8RNcRa6NUtAI Unleashed: The Foundry and studio shaping tomorrow's creativity
🚀 AI Unleashed: The Foundry & Studios Shaping Tomorrow’s Creativity What if creativity wasn’t limited by time, resources, or technical complexity? Join this upcoming session where we explore how AI Foundries and modern AI studios are transforming the way businesses innovate, build, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. From virtual try-on experiences in retail to intelligent chatbots that enhance customer support, AI-powered platforms are unlocking new possibilities: ✨ Accelerate innovation without heavy development overhead ✨ Create immersive, personalized customer journeys ✨ Automate processes while improving efficiency ✨ Turn ideas into scalable solutions—faster than ever Whether you're a developer, business leader or tech enthusiast, this session will give you practical insights into how AI platforms are reshaping creativity and digital experiences. 🎯 Don’t miss this opportunity to see how AI is redefining what’s possible. 📺 Register and join live → StreamYard Session 🗓️ Date: 8 May 2026 ⏰ Time: 18:00 (AEST) / 16:00 (SGT) / 10:00 (CEST) 🎙️ Speaker: Senthamil Selvan 📌 Topic: AI Unleashed: The Foundry and studio shaping tomorrow's creativityAI and human potential: Advancing skills, innovation, and outcomes
When empowered employees put AI skills into action, true transformation begins. Across industries and around the world, organizations are teaming up with Microsoft to help their employees learn the skills they need to put AI into practice. Building AI skills today sets up employees and organizations to thrive in the opportunities of tomorrow. At visionary organizations, like Albertsons Companies, Casey’s, Levi Strauss, and Newell Brands, teams are moving beyond theory and weaving AI into everyday work, transforming routine tasks into opportunities for innovation and business growth. This isn’t just about technology—it’s about people reimagining how they make an impact—and, in the process, they’re building resilience, driving growth, and creating success. AI Skills Navigator: Guidance for your AI-powered growth To help more people tap into this potential, we recently announced AI Skills Navigator an agentic learning space, bringing together AI-powered skilling experiences and credentials that help individuals build career skills and organizations worldwide accelerate their business. Forward-thinking companies Icertis, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, MTN, and Vodafone previewed AI Skills Navigator and shared their excitement about the experience. They see this learning space as a way to strengthen their learning cultures, prepare their workforces for the future, and deliver meaningful results—from better customer experiences to innovation that scales. Empowering teams to lead with confidence We believe skilling should always start with people, especially in a fast-changing AI landscape. We’re inspired by what teams can achieve when they feel supported, and we’re proud to work with organizations of all sizes as they help their employees grow and lead with confidence. The examples that follow highlight how enterprises across industries and regions are building future-ready teams with Microsoft skilling—and seeing real impact. The Adecco Group, a leading talent solutions and advisory firm that serves more than 100,000 companies every year, is committed to upskilling its workforce and preparing employees for the future of work. Partnering with Microsoft, The Adecco Group provides skill-building that supports 300 million candidate interactions annually and fosters a learning culture that scales AI expertise across the company. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned energy company of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, operates across the entire oil and gas value chain. ADNOC and Microsoft have committed to co-develop and deploy agents that enhance efficiency, enable autonomous operations, and reduce emissions. This collaboration includes advanced AI tools and workforce training from Microsoft, in addition to the creation of a joint innovation ecosystem to drive transformative energy solutions. Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, is helping its associates be more effective with AI. According to Anuj Dhanda, Executive Vice President (EVP), Chief Technology & Transformation Officer, "At Albertsons Companies, we’re better together, whether in our stores or behind the scenes, and we embrace groundbreaking innovation that empowers each of our team members to earn customers for life. Our partnership with Microsoft is one of many transformative AI initiatives we’re implementing to unlock the potential of AI, helping our associates to be more effective, simplify their work, and build a more capable workforce to serve our 37 million customers each week." The Belgian Ministry of Defense is working with Microsoft to strengthen its capabilities through the practical application of generative AI, supporting a future-ready workforce. With AI coaching, the ministry equips its personnel with the skills to enhance digital resilience and operational effectiveness. Bupa APAC, a global leader in health insurance, health services, and aged care, keeps skilling central to its strategy evolution. The company cites AI as a critical part of its transformation but points out that technology alone isn't enough. It’s focused on its teams—building the right skills to make AI effective across the organization. Casey’s, a Fortune 500 convenience store chain and one of the largest pizza retailers in the United States, is embracing AI throughout the company. As Sanjeev Satturu, Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), explains, “At Casey's, we are dedicated to fostering digital dexterity by equipping our teams with innovative AI tools. Through our strategic partnership with Microsoft, we are providing employees with the knowledge and resources to seamlessly integrate AI into their daily work, empowering them to extend their capabilities, boost productivity, and drive our evolution. By embracing AI in everyday actions, we amplify our collective potential and accelerate meaningful progress across the organization.” CloudThat, a Microsoft Training Services Partner and award-winning global leader in training and consulting, set out to reimagine how people learn cloud and AI technologies. The result is CloudAttack, a proprietary, generative AI–powered, gamified learning platform that’s making skill-building more interactive, enjoyable, and measurable. As a result of CloudAttack, participants express new confidence in using Microsoft 365 Copilot daily. Plus, CloudThat reports a 100% increase over the last year in Microsoft AI and prompt engineering sessions at universities, along with a 15% increase in Microsoft Certification exam participation among enterprise learners. The nationwide CloudAttack Prompt-a-Thon, sponsored by Microsoft, brought together nearly 1,000 learners, all competing to craft effective prompts and use AI tools, like Copilot, more confidently. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank), one of Australia’s largest banks, is guided by its goal to build a brighter future for all. With Microsoft skilling offerings, the bank is enabling its teams to engage with AI, use the latest tools, and embrace new ways of working, as employees find out how AI can drive real impact. With a structured skilling approach and real-world experimentation, CommBank employees are learning to confidently apply AI to their day-to-day tasks, stay ahead, innovate, and help shape the future of banking. Conagra Brands, Inc., the consumer‑packaged goods company behind snacks like Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn and Slim Jim, continues its history of innovation by adding AI capabilities and skilling to a foundation of modernization. Training sessions and hackathons, held in partnership with Microsoft and demonstrating Microsoft Copilot, led to new ideas for specific use cases across business units. Conagra now has 120 Active AI Champions completing advanced Copilot trainings and 1,300 employees trained through AI + Data Day events, with a goal to train all 15,000 employees. AI skilling has helped Conagra teams be more efficient, generate less waste, and make better products for their consumers. Danone, a world leader in specialized nutrition, is exploring new frontiers in AI transformation. Juergen Esser, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in charge of Finance, Technology and Data, observes, “Our collaboration with Microsoft will accelerate our AI transformation, providing us with the tools, technology, and expertise to explore new frontiers in data analysis, operational efficiency, and consumer engagement. Working together is not just about technology; it’s about fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and performance across our organisation." Digital China Cloud Technology Limited partnered with Lenovo, the world’s largest PC company, to create a training program to help Lenovo employees move from casual interaction with AI tools to meaningful, scenario-driven usage. The goal was to onboard 30,000 employees in China—about 40% of the Lenovo workforce—to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Microsoft Copilot Studio. The results included significant gains in productivity, efficiency, innovation, and more. As Lenovo China Operations Management Professional Dan Zhao explains, “Copilot Chat has fundamentally changed how we manage our daily workflow. What used to take hours now happens in minutes. It not only saves us time but also enhances the quality of our communication and strategic thinking." EPAM, a global leader in digital engineering and AI-powered software engineering services, is differentiating itself by focusing on Microsoft Applied Skills, moving beyond academic knowledge to real client impact. This approach demonstrates proficiency, strengthens outcomes, and provides a clear competitive advantage. With Applied Skills, EPAM fast-tracks AI readiness and project outcomes. Icertis, a leader in AI-powered contract intelligence, previewed AI Skills Navigator. Shwetambari Salgar, Learning & Organisational Development, is enthusiastic, emphasizing, “AI Skills Navigator provides an opportunity to upskill Icertis teams for the future through a unified learning platform. As a long-time Microsoft partner, we have a shared drive for innovation and continuous learning.” The International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), aims to empower nations to advance ethical AI for the good of humanity. Through its global Women Elevate initiative, ICAIRE is equipping 5,000 women with entry-level skills in AI, data science, and responsible AI use. The program is delivered by Microsoft Training Services Partner Spectrum Networks and features a comprehensive curriculum covering foundational AI and cloud concepts, Azure essentials, and the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification. By combining technical skilling with a strong focus on ethical innovation, Women Elevate is helping shape a new generation of women leaders ready to use AI to increase productivity, shorten time to market, and contribute meaningfully to the global AI ecosystem. Koç Holding is a Fortune Global 500 company and Turkey’s largest multinational conglomerate, operating across energy, automotive, finance, consumer goods, and retail sectors. The company is taking advantage of Microsoft Applied Skills, empowering more than 6,000 employees to build future-ready skills in cloud, AI, and automation—underscoring the company’s belief that digital transformation begins with people. Koç Holding employees demonstrate their technical expertise through real-world tasks with Applied Skills, which focus on targeted, scenario-based learning and validation. These staff members are turning their new skills into impact, solving business challenges and driving agility. Lenovo, a global technology powerhouse focused on delivering smarter technology for all, is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft to upskill an additional 4,200 employees this year, following the successful training of more than 3,000 to date. What began as a small pilot has evolved into one of Lenovo’s largest learning communities, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading force in the AI revolution. Levi Strauss & Co., global apparel company, is building the foundation to apply AI across its operations. As Karen Scholl, Vice President, Office of the Chief Digital & Technology Officer, explains, “We’re empowering our people to tap into the power of AI to unlock new possibilities, reimagine how we work, and accelerate our evolution into a best-in-class, direct-to-consumer retailer. Our partnership with Microsoft isn’t just about technology, but it’s about building the right foundation to embed AI across everything we do. From product design to store operations, we’re building and equipping every team member with the tools to drive innovation and growth, ensuring Levi’s continues to thrive for another 170 years. By leveraging Microsoft’s technological expertise, we’re redefining what’s possible for the future of retail.” LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides data analytics and technology to help organizations assess risk, ensure compliance, and prevent fraud. Sarah Fabius, Technology Optimization Program Manager, notes that the company is dedicated to equipping its workforce “with cutting-edge AI skills that fuel innovation in risk and data analytics technology. Through our partnership with Microsoft and the integration of AI Skills Navigator, we’re ensuring our teams have the tools and expertise to lead in a rapidly evolving industry.” MTN is Africa’s largest mobile network operator. Paul Norman, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, shares his perspective on AI Skills Navigator, noting, “At MTN, we believe in developing an AI-fluent organisation that empowers every employee to adopt and utilise AI responsibly and ethically. Microsoft AI Skills Navigator provides an exciting new learning innovation that can help demystify AI through its learner-centric and human-first approach to grow and develop an agile, resilient, and AI-inspired workforce of the future!" National Australia Bank (NAB), one of Australia’s largest financial institutions, is advancing its strategic commitment to AI, with more than 100 initiatives underway and thousands of employees already applying generative AI to deliver real business value. The bank emphasizes responsible AI, inclusive innovation, and strong leadership. Through a joint effort with Microsoft, 600 women have received AI training, reinforcing NAB’s vision of a diverse, future-ready workforce equipped to lead in the age of AI. Newell Brands, a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands, is empowering its employees with Microsoft technology and skilling. As Chris Peterson, President and CEO, points out, “At Newell Brands, we see AI as a catalyst for creativity, productivity, and transformation. Through the Microsoft AI experience training series and access to Microsoft 365 Copilot, we’re empowering our employees with technology that helps them work smarter, boost productivity, and turn ideas into action faster. This is about more than adopting new technology—it’s about fueling innovation, driving efficiency, and creating lasting value across our business.” NTT DATA is a global IT services and consulting company that provides digital, cloud, and business solutions to help organizations innovate and transform. The company is building its workforce skills in generative AI in close collaboration with Microsoft and other leading partners. The company intends to train 200,000 of its employees by fiscal year 2027 and, as of October 2025, had already trained 70,000 of them. This initiative empowers staff members to apply generative AI independently, driving innovation in daily tasks and creating new value across the organization. OP Pohjola, Finland’s largest provider of financial services, is fueling transformation in the financial sector by embedding continuous learning into its culture. In a joint effort with Microsoft, the company is ensuring that every employee has the opportunity to build AI skills and can apply them responsibly every day. This commitment and world-class learning strengthens customer service, fosters innovation, and helps to shape the future of banking. Ricoh, a global technology company that provides digital services, printing solutions, and workplace innovation, believes that real transformation starts with people. The company is advancing AI adoption across its teams in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on skill-building so team members can use new tools with confidence. Ricoh and Microsoft worked together to deliver AI Learning Week, which gave employees the opportunity to explore ways to apply AI meaningfully and responsibly and to reimagine how they work, enhancing human potential. Swiss Post, Switzerland's national postal service, together with Campana & Schott and Microsoft, launched an ambitious AI skilling and adoption program, delivering measurable results. The organization conducts regular surveys to gather feedback and better understand impact. Teams across logistics, finance, and corporate services are reporting meaningful gains in productivity and efficiency, while employees cite faster access to information, improved collaboration, and higher satisfaction with their digital work environment. These outcomes reflect a clear return on investment—both in operational performance and employee empowerment. Vodafone, a global telecommunications company, looks to the exciting possibilities of AI Skills Navigator. As Steve Garley, Senior Manager Technical and Digital Skills, explains, “AI Skills Navigator learner-first design aligns well with an AI-first approach and Vodafone’s ambition for readiness in the AI era. We see potential in Microsoft’s [skilling experience] to transform traditional training models and deliver role-based, just-in-time upskilling that drives real business outcomes.” From retail to telecom and more, these organizations prove that empowered teams can spark innovation and lasting growth. Their experiences highlight a truth worth remembering—transformation starts with people. When employees feel confident in their skills, they create success that extends well beyond daily tasks. If you’re ready to empower your workforce with the full potential of AI skilling, get your teams started with AI Skills Navigator.AI at every career stage (start, grow, lead)
Explore how AI can support your work at every stage of your career. Learn practical ways to build confidence early on, scale your impact midcareer, and strengthen strategy and coaching as you lead. In the final post in this series on AI for business users, Microsoft Senior Learning Manager Ashley Masters Hall shares insights on how AI skills can help you grow your confidence and impact, along with your career. In my first post in this series, Bringing AI fluency to every corner of the organization (even yours!), I highlight why AI fluency matters for every business user and how to get started. In the second, AI prompting tips & tricks for everyday tasks, we look at simple approaches that help non-technical roles work smarter. In this final post, we explore how AI can support you at every stage of your career, from your first role to senior leadership. I hear two questions all the time from people at very different stages: Is it too early for me to care about AI? and Is it too late for me to learn this? My answer to both is simple: no. AI is useful at every career stage. What changes is how you use it to support your work and grow into what’s next. If you’re about to graduate (or new to your role) Early in career can feel like learning a language: acronyms, tools, processes, and all the unwritten rules. AI can help you ramp up so you don’t have to pretend to know everything. I recommend: Translate what’s unfamiliar. Prompt Microsoft Copilot: Explain [this] like I’m new to the team. What are the key terms, and what do they mean? Great for onboarding docs, meeting notes, product overviews, and customer histories. Prepare with confidence. Prompt Copilot: I have a 1:1 with my manager. Offer some smart questions to ask based on [these] goals. Helpful for performance conversations, project kickoffs, and cross‑team introductions. Draft quickly and cleanly. Prompt Copilot: Turn my [notes] into a clear email/status update with a short subject line. Works well for weekly updates, follow‑ups, summaries, and stakeholder recaps. How it looks: After a big meeting, Maya, a new program coordinator, has pages of notes and a calendar of follow‑ups but needs an organized summary: She drops her notes into Copilot and asks for decisions made, action items with placeholder owners, open questions, and a draft summary in her team’s format. Putting AI fluency into action, she prompts: What might I have missed? Maya acts on the response and verifies the final summary before she shares it with the team. Instead of spending hours turning notes into structure, she can spend her time making sure the structure is right. That’s a good trade. If you’re midcareer (more scope, more stakeholders, more “Can you just…?”) In midcareer, your work becomes less about your individual output and more about how work moves across teams. You’re interacting with different roles, finding how best to meet goals, and strengthening relationships. AI can help you scale the tasks that quietly take up your week. For example: Audience‑specific rewrites. Prompt Copilot: Create a version of [this] update for each audience: leaders, teammates, stakeholders. Helpful for keeping your message consistent so you don’t have to write each version from scratch. Decision memos and tradeoffs. Prompt Copilot: Draft a decision memo with risks, options, and what we need to decide, based on [these] details. Useful for product choices, budget requests, vendor evaluations, and roadmap changes. Workflow cleanup. Prompt Copilot: Turn [this] messy intake process into a simple template. Great for streamlining workflows across teams. How it looks: Jordan manages marketing for a product launch and is juggling competing requests: He prompts Copilot: Draft three campaign brief options, including assumptions, target audience, success metrics, and items to confirm. From the results, Jordan picks the best draft and adds details that Copilot didn’t have, such as brand voice and stakeholder nuance. He then prompts Copilot: Generate an FAQ for field teams and a launch timeline. Jordan refines everything into a final draft. The win isn’t that AI “did the work.” It’s that Jordan got to a usable plan fast, freeing him to focus on the judgment calls. If you’re an experienced professional (strategy, coaching, and making the system better) Later in your career, your job shifts from producing artifacts to shaping direction, like spotting patterns, coaching people, and reducing friction so teams can execute. AI can support that work in ways we often overlook, such as: Stress‑test strategy. Prompt Copilot: What would have to be true for [this] plan to fail? Helpful for pressure‑testing assumptions before you commit. Scenario thinking. Prompt Copilot: If [X] happens, what’s the second‑order impact on customers/teams/timelines? Useful for planning cycles, risk reviews, and leadership discussions. Coaching support. Prompt Copilot: How can I help my team members turn [these] rough drafts into clear narratives? Practical for freeing up more time for the coaching only you can do. How it looks: Rina runs business operations for a large organization. Instead of sifting through 40 pages of retrospectives: She uses Copilot to cluster themes, prompting: What slowed teams down? Which patterns repeat? Which decisions keep getting revisited? Rina turns the response into a short pre-read, with top themes, supporting examples, and a proposed set of focus areas. Then she brings leaders together to decide what should change in the coming quarter. How to pick your next AI skill (without spiraling) If you’re wondering where to start, I recommend that you check out AI Skills Navigator, the agentic learning space from Microsoft that brings together AI-powered skilling experiences and credentials to help you build career skills. AI Skills Navigator is structured, creating pathways based on what you do, so you don’t have to bounce between random tutorials. Map Copilot skilling to your career stage: Early in career. Copilot foundations, prompting basics, and quality checks. Try How to Prompt Copilot to Make Presentations in PowerPoint. Midcareer. Role‑based scenarios, decision memos, and stakeholder communication. Check out Copilot in Outlook helps you craft more impactful communications. Experienced. Strategy, responsible adoption, coaching, and scaling patterns. Explore The AI Shift: What Leaders Need to Know About AI Agents.
What’s new in AI Skills Navigator: April 2026
Learn about recent improvements to playlists, skilling sessions, partner discovery, and credentials, based on what learners and team leaders told us they need to build skills with confidence. Priya Vaidyanathan is a Director of Product Management at Microsoft, where she leads the product management teams that are building AI Skills Navigator. AI Skills Navigator exists to help people and teams build confidence with AI skills, through clear paths, practical learning, and guidance that fits real work. It brings together trusted training and credentials from Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub, and other sources in one connected experience so you can build skills without bouncing between tools. Since launch, we’ve kept improving the experience, guided by your feedback, based on how people are learning and working. For the deeper story behind why we built AI Skills Navigator, read The moment AI skilling stopped being optional—and started being personal. Today’s post focuses on what’s changed, including recent updates designed to make it easier to guide teams, learn at your own pace, and stay on track. Skilling playlists: From small teams to organization-wide rollouts Skilling playlists in AI Skills Navigator turn priorities into clear, role-aligned paths, helping teams focus on the skills that matter for their day-to-day work. They’re often where people begin, especially when team leaders want learning plans tied to real projects and role-specific responsibilities. The process for creating playlists is now more transparent and efficient. As you draft a playlist with AI support, you can see why specific content is suggested, apply your own judgment, and adjust as needed. You can also select multiple AI-suggested prompts in a single interaction, reducing manual effort while maintaining control of what your teams learn next. We’ve improved visibility for playlist owners and team leaders. Real-time progress tracking helps you see how your learners are moving through a playlist, spot where support may be needed, and adjust plans as priorities change. Progress view in an AI Skills Navigator skilling playlist. We’ve also enhanced skilling playlists to support wider rollouts, whether you’re guiding a small team or coordinating learning across an organization. We made this change based on your feedback, so playlists can scale with your needs—without added complexity. Skilling sessions: Now more flexible for real workdays Skilling sessions in AI Skills Navigator feature content written by human experts and presented by AI, with in-session support from the Skilling Coach agent. You can ask questions at any time, and the coach prompts quick knowledge checks and reflections to reinforce what you’re learning. Recent improvements give learners more control over how they explore the sessions, including the ability to move forward or rewind, adjust playback speed, and save progress to resume later. These updates make it easier for learners to fit deeper learning into their workdays, while continuing to build skills they can apply right away. Pro tip: Find skilling sessions in Explore content, where you can browse and filter by learning type. Microsoft Training Services Partners: Tailored, local training support From individual skill‑building to supporting your team’s goals, Training Services Partners can help. They can tailor instructor-led training to your needs, from role- and project-specific enablement to local language delivery and flexible formats (in-person, virtual, or blended). The new Training Services Partners directory in AI Skills Navigator makes it easier to discover Microsoft partners that can support human‑led training, customized programs, and organization‑wide skilling initiatives. This directory helps organizations move from individual learning to coordinated, supported skilling, without having to search across multiple sites or programs. New content and credentials: All in one place AI Skills Navigator brings training and credentials together so you can follow a clear path and build toward readiness. The Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader and Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certifications are now generally available, giving individuals and organizations a way to validate applied capability—not just knowledge. With training and credential prep in one place, you can focus on getting ready and proving what you can do. Earn an AI Transformation Leader or AI Business Professional Certification. As we continue evolving the content and credentials available in AI Skills Navigator, our focus remains the same: making it easier for you to find relevant learning, build skills that stick, and demonstrate progress over time. We’re listening—and continuing to improve AI Skills Navigator These updates reflect your feedback: you’ve asked for clearer ways to guide teams with playlists, more flexible learning through skilling sessions, and more support when you want it, through partner discovery and credentials in one place. We’ll keep evolving AI Skills Navigator based on how people learn, how teams work, and what we hear from individuals and organizations. And we’ll continue sharing updates as the experience grows. Sign in to get started with AI Skills Navigator. Sign in to AI Skills Navigator to see what’s most relevant for you, and pick up right where you left off. Stay tuned for more updates soon. In our next Inside AI Skills Navigator post, we’ll take a closer look at skilling playlists.New Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification
Do you use generative AI tools, like Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot, to enhance your daily work, boost productivity, guide decisions, and drive business outcomes—without writing code or developing AI applications? Are you comfortable with AI fundamentals, prompt creation, and applying AI to real-world tasks? Do you produce professional content, summarize meetings, and collaborate across teams using Microsoft 365 apps? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification validates your expertise in these skills. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-730: AI Business Professional, currently in beta. This new Certification shows employers that you’re an AI-ready professional who can drive better outcomes in any business role, that you’re fluent in using AI in your day-to-day projects, including how to be more productive and creative as you work across Microsoft 365 apps, and that you understand how to use Copilot and agents to analyze data and automate tasks. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification is designed for business professionals who want to apply AI tools to real business challenges. Whether you're in marketing, operations, project management, human resources, customer service, or another field, this Certification proves that you can unlock new levels of productivity and insight. As a candidate for the Certification, you should have a basic understanding of Microsoft 365 and should be comfortable navigating core apps, such as Outlook, Word, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel. You also need to be familiar with common business processes, including creating presentations, generating images, and managing documents. If you use generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to draft emails, summarize documents, create presentations, or generate creative content, like images and text, this Certification could be a great fit for you. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-730 (beta), on or before December 11, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB730Smore25. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before December 11, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-730 (beta): Review the Exam AB-730 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-730 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-730 (beta) on or before December 11, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.
Strengthen your research workflow with generative AI
Stop guessing at prompts. Use research-ready templates that guide Microsoft Copilot toward clearer reasoning, better drafts, and transparent methods—so your work is faster, sharper, and credible. Darcy Ogden, Ph. D., leads the academic researcher programs for Microsoft Global Skilling. A computational scientist and former professor of geophysics, Dr. Ogden has a passion for teaching and using new technology to accelerate research. Guidance on using generative AI in research often lands at the extremes; it’s either overly optimistic or far too cautious. Most researchers, students, and professionals working with data or analysis know that the reality sits somewhere in between: all models are useful but fallible tools. As researchers, we ask: What was this model designed to do? Where does it perform well? Where does it fall short? What assumptions are we making when we use this model? Those same questions apply to generative AI. Understanding how these systems work and how they shape the outputs you receive can help you decide when to rely on them and when to adjust. We’re all trying to figure out how best to work with generative AI, and there’s no simple, universal answer. But, in many cases, the work of research itself creates opportunities to apply generative AI thoughtfully and effectively. Explore our new guide for researchers As part of the latest Microsoft efforts to support graduate students, postdocs, and faculty aiming to use generative AI for research, we’re happy to share a new learning resource, The Academic Researcher's Guide to Generative AI. In this guide, we bring together recent insights and practical frameworks for considering generative AI as a research instrument. The guide’s purpose is to support researchers in asking well‑formed questions about the tools they use and in reflecting on the role that those tools play in research processes. Bring generative AI into your research methodology This new guide provides research-aligned approaches to prompting in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, along with frameworks for prompt development, testing, and documentation. Further, it includes ready-to-adapt prompting use cases for research scenarios. The following brief examples reflect the kinds of tasks that these prompts support: Research synthesis. Summarize the key arguments across these sources and note where the evidence conflicts. Writing support. Rewrite this paragraph for clarity and precision while keeping the original meaning. Data analysis. Explain the assumptions behind this statistical method and list situations where it may fail. We’ve also included guidance on crafting quality prompts in Copilot, with techniques that can help reduce ambiguity and surface the reasoning behind responses. These approaches for prompting can deliver tailored, well-structured outputs suited for research purposes. The following examples highlight the types of instructions that researchers can use to make the most of Copilot prompts: Surface assumptions. State assumptions and show reasoning before providing the final answer. Limit sources. Use only the attached sources and flag any gaps or uncertainties in the evidence. Structure responses. Follow this structure: Context → key points → limitations → questions to be considered next. This guide treats the use of generative AI like other models or tools you use in your research. Like them, generative AI has no native understanding of fields of study, datasets, or research constraints. The guide introduces an approach to using generative AI as a visible, documentable part of academic research. It treats interactions with Copilot as part of your methodology: something to record, review, and refine as you move through your research. Put the guide to work As generative AI becomes more common across academic and professional environments, the question is no longer whether to use it but how to use it well. As the models grow more capable, the challenge is how to use them in ways that support learning, integrity, and transparency. We developed this guide to help researchers and students engage these tools in ways that strengthen, rather than diminish learning and scholarly judgment. We invite you to read The Academic Researcher's Guide to Generative AI. Use it as a starting point, adapt the frameworks to your own discipline and workflow, and contribute feedback about the guide so that we can continue to evolve this resource alongside the field itself.
