Tools & Platforms
IBM will merge two South Bay research hubs into one San Jose tech site
SAN JOSE — A legendary IBM San Jose research hub that produced numerous cutting-edge scientific and technical breakthroughs is slated to close and shift its workers to another IBM lab a few miles away.
IBM, one of the world’s most prestigious corporate names, is closing its Almaden Research Center at 650 Harry Road in south San Jose, the tech titan has confirmed.
The tech company will move its researchers and workers from the Almaden Research Center to IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab at 555 Bailey Road on the edges of Coyote Valley in San Jose.
IBM described the shutdown and consolidation as a way for its researchers to operate in a more efficient and collaborative fashion.
“We look forward to bringing all of our IBMers under one roof at our Silicon Valley Lab, working together side-by-side, to drive more collaboration and to continue to deliver new innovations, from artificial intelligence to quantum computing, for our company and clients,” an IBM spokesperson said in comments emailed to this news organization.
The pending consolidation and departure of the researchers and other workers at the Almaden Lab mark the end of decades of cutting-edge achievements that occurred at that site, nestled in the Santa Teresa hills.
“IBM has been spearheading the development of breakthrough technologies in Silicon Valley for over 60 years,” the company spokesperson said.
The tech titan’s Almaden Lab is an innovation hub whose breakthroughs involve countless technical and scientific endeavors.
Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, machine learning, cloud technologies and data storage are among the major scientific advances of the current technical era that the Almaden complex has produced.
Yet over the nearly 40 years since the IBM Almaden complex opened in 1986, the site’s researchers also invented the first ink-jet printer prototype, the world’s smallest disk drive, and the first disk drive, along with encryption for DVD and Blu-ray devices.
In 2014, William Moerner, a researcher at the IBM Almaden site, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Moerner’s work paved the way for the creation of optical storage technologies that many experts see as the foundation for the modern tech industry.
Research at the Almaden lab also led to the creation of a computer chip called TrueNorth that mimics how the human brain works. The chip was so cutting-edge that it was accepted into the Computer History Museum.
The Almaden lab is part of a 700-acre site in the San Jose hills that IBM owns, according to real estate documents.
The merging of the lab sites could be completed by sometime in 2026 or even by the end of this year.
“This is primarily a site consolidation, which will take place over the next six to nine months,” the IBM spokesperson said. “We do not expect significant workforce impacts.”
The IBM Silicon Valley Lab at 555 Bailey occupies a parcel that totals 200 acres, a Santa Clara County property database shows.
Numerous residential subdivisions are located next to or near the western and southern boundaries of the IBM Almaden lab site on the Harry Road hilltop. The northern and eastern sections of the property border primarily open space, a review of a county mapping database shows.
IBM’s tradition of tech innovation in San Jose stretches back to a time when Silicon Valley wasn’t even known by that name.
In 1952, IBM established its first West Coast lab at a south San Jose site on Cottle Road. That lab’s achievements included the creation of the first magnetic disk drive device.
Those IBM sites at and near Cottle Road in south San Jose are now dotted with new suburban homes and apartments as well as a Costco retail warehouse.
“We are currently exploring options for the Almaden space,” the IBM spokesperson said, referring to the soon-to-be vacated Harry Road site in south San Jose.
Originally Published:
Tools & Platforms
Virginia 911 call center implements AI technology to allow dispatchers to focus on emergency calls – KTVB
July 11, 2025
SEOUL – A wave of artificial intelligence certifications has flooded the market in South Korea over the past two years.
But according to government data, most of these tests exist only on paper, and have never been used by a single person.
As of Wednesday, there were 505 privately issued AI-related certifications registered with the Korea Research Institute for Professional Education and Training, a state-funded body under the Prime Minister’s Office.
This is nearly five times the number recorded in 2022, before tools like ChatGPT captured global attention. But more than 90 percent of those certifications had zero test-takers as of late last year, the institute’s own data shows.
Many of the credentials are loosely tied to artificial intelligence in name only. Among recent additions are titles like “AI Brain Fitness Coach,” “AI Art Storybook Author,” and “AI Trainer,” which often have no connection to real AI technology.
KT’s AICE is South Korea’s only nationally accredited AI certification, offering five levels of exams that assess real-world AI understanding and skills, from block coding for elementary students to Python-based modeling for professionals. PHOTO: KT/THE KOREA HERALD
Only one of the 505 AI-related certifications — KT’s AICE exam — has received official recognition from the South Korean government. The rest have been registered by individuals, companies, or private organizations, with no independent oversight or quality control.
In 2024, just 36 of these certifications held any kind of exam. Only two had more than 1,000 people apply. Fourteen had a perfect 100 percent pass rate. And 20 were removed from the registry that same year.
For test organizers, the appeal is often financial. One popular certification that attracted around 500 candidates last year charged up to 150,000 won ($110) per person, including test fees and course materials. The content reportedly consisted of basic instructions on how to use existing tools like ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion. Some issuers even promote these credentials as qualifications to teach AI to students or the general public.
The people signing up tend to be those anxious about keeping up in an AI-driven world. A survey released this week by education firm Eduwill found that among 391 South Koreans in their 20s to 50s, 39.1 percent said they planned to earn an AI certificate to prepare for the digital future. Others (27.6 percent) said they were taking online AI courses or learning how to use automation tools like Notion AI.
Industry insiders warn that most of these certificates hold little value in the job market. A local AI industry official told The Korea Herald that these credentials are often “window dressing” for resumes.
“Most private AI certifications aren’t taken seriously by hiring managers,” he said. “Even for non-technical jobs like communications or marketing, what matters more is whether someone actually understands the AI space. That can’t be faked with a certificate.”
eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Microsoft is launching a $4 billion initiative to train 20 million people in artificial intelligence skills through a new global program called Elevate. The effort, announced by company President Brad Smith, is part of Microsoft’s commitment to “put people first” as AI becomes more integrated into work and education.
The tech titan described the program as a centralized platform for its technology support, donations, and training across schools, colleges, and nonprofits. Through the Elevate Academy, it plans to deliver AI literacy at scale, including offerings like “Hour of AI” and partnerships with educators and labor unions.
A unified platform for Microsoft’s AI training
Microsoft Elevate consolidates the company’s nonprofit and education initiatives into a single operational framework, replacing both its Philanthropies division and Tech for Social Impact team. It combines funding, cloud infrastructure, and AI tools to expand access to training and technology.
The $4 billion will be allocated over five years through a mix of grants, software, and computing resources for K–12 schools, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations worldwide.
Massive training effort for in-demand AI credentials
As part of its credentialing plan, Microsoft is introducing the Elevate Academy, a program to reach millions of learners in just two years. It will offer structured learning across a spectrum of competencies, from digital basics to advanced technical instruction.
Course content will run through LinkedIn Learning and GitHub, two platforms already used within professional and developer communities.
The academy serves as a centerpiece delivery channel, combining investment and infrastructure with partnerships and events to help learners earn industry-recognized certifications.
National and local partners help execute large-scale rollout
Microsoft is working with education nonprofits, labor groups, and government bodies to scale rollout..
“Hour of AI,” developed with Code.org, introduces younger students to foundational concepts through short-form instruction. A summer skilling series extends access outside the school year.
Labor unions are also involved in workforce development, including the National Academy for AI Instruction and courses across the building trades. In Germany, Microsoft is partnering with North Rhine-Westphalia for better regional programs.
Aligning training with public and institutional standards
To support policy alignment, Microsoft is working with public agencies to integrate AI skills into national education systems. It has also partnered with the United Nations, the Vatican, and academic institutions to promote responsible use and ethical standards in AI learning.
These collaborations build on Microsoft’s long-standing involvement in digital literacy and public education initiatives, now carried forward under Elevate’s global scope.
Technology with purpose, training with intent
Microsoft maintains that technology should augment human potential rather than replace it. Elevate reflects that view by focusing on skills amplifying judgment, creativity, and contribution.
Work, the company argues, is deeply tied to identity and dignity, a principle it says must guide how artificial intelligence is developed and deployed. Elevate carries that outlook forward, linking digital learning to values about the role of work in people’s lives.
Another way Microsoft is supporting AI training is by giving $12.5 million in funding to the National Academy for AI Instruction, which the American Federation of Teachers is launching this fall.
-
Funding & Business1 week agoKayak and Expedia race to build AI travel agents that turn social posts into itineraries
-
Jobs & Careers1 week ago
Mumbai-based Perplexity Alternative Has 60k+ Users Without Funding
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
Donald Trump suggests US government review subsidies to Elon Musk’s companies
-
Funding & Business1 week ago
Rethinking Venture Capital’s Talent Pipeline
-
Jobs & Careers1 week ago
Why Agentic AI Isn’t Pure Hype (And What Skeptics Aren’t Seeing Yet)
-
Education3 days ago9 AI Ethics Scenarios (and What School Librarians Would Do)
-
Education4 days agoTeachers see online learning as critical for workforce readiness in 2025
-
Education1 week agoAERDF highlights the latest PreK-12 discoveries and inventions
-
Education4 days ago
Nursery teachers to get £4,500 to work in disadvantaged areas
-
Education6 days ago
How ChatGPT is breaking higher education, explained
