Stage 1
Status: FutureHow modern AI models work
Understand enough about how models work to predict their strengths, limits and failure modes.
Builds: Knowledge & Theory
Training: AI for Work, Programming Foundations
Technology pathway
Software Developer to AI Engineer
Build on solid development experience to design, test and ship AI-powered features that are reliable, safe and worth using.
Who it’s for: Working software developers who want to build reliable, safe applications on top of modern AI models.
You are hereSoftware Developer
7 stages
TargetAI Engineer
Starting point
What you bring, and what to build
Developers already write, test and maintain software, work with APIs and debug complex systems. AI engineering uses all of that, with new challenges: models that do not always give the same answer, retrieval of the right information, evaluation and responsible use. This pathway builds those skills and ends with a practical AI application you design, test and explain.
Transferable strengths you already have
- Programming experience
- Working with APIs
- Testing and debugging
- Version control
- System design thinking
- Reading technical documentation
Capability areas to build
Skills to build
The route
Stage by stage
Each stage shows its own status. None of these stages’ training is in development yet; the pathway as a whole is future.
You are here
Software Developer
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Stage 2
Status: FutureWorking with AI APIs
Call models from your code, design prompts and context, and handle errors properly.
Builds: Practical / Occupational Skills
Training: Programming Foundations
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Stage 3
Status: FutureRetrieval and data
Give models the right information from documents and data, and keep it current.
Builds: Practical / Occupational Skills
Training: Programming Foundations, Data Analysis Foundations
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Stage 4
Status: FutureTools and agents
Let models use tools and carry out multi-step tasks, with sensible limits and oversight.
Builds: AI & Modern Technology
Training: AI for Work, Programming Foundations
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Stage 5
Status: FutureEvaluation and testing
Measure whether an AI feature actually works, and catch regressions before users do.
Builds: Practical / Occupational Skills
Training: Programming Foundations
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Stage 6
Status: FutureSafety, privacy and responsible AI
Protect user data, defend against misuse and design for fairness and transparency.
Builds: AI & Modern Technology
Training: AI for Work, Security Fundamentals
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Stage 7
Status: FuturePractical project
Design, build, evaluate and explain a small AI application that solves a real problem.
Builds: Practical / Occupational Skills
Training: Programming Foundations
Target
AI Engineer
Practical evidence
What you’ll be able to show
Progress is proven with real work, recorded in your private Skills Passport.
- A working AI application in a code repository
- An evaluation set with results and notes
- A short design document explaining trade-offs
- A written review of privacy and misuse risks
Linked training
Training used
- AI for WorkStatus: Open — early access
- Programming FoundationsStatus: Future
- Data Analysis FoundationsStatus: Future
- Security FundamentalsStatus: Future
Where next
Possible next pathways
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Status: Future
FromIT Support to ToCybersecurity Analyst
Build on hands-on IT support experience with security fundamentals, networks, identity, monitoring and incident response to move into security work.
Training updates
Hear when this pathway opens
Pathways open in stages as their training is built. Join the launch list to hear first.