AI certifications: Hype or helpful? | Ep. 251

In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw is joined by Sydnee Mayers, Product Lead for AI at Cribl, to explore the fast-growing world of AI certifications. As tech companies, cloud providers, and universities race to offer AI training programs, how can professionals know which certifications matter — and which ones might be outdated before you even finish them?

We break down:

The explosion of AI certifications post-ChatGPT

The most popular programs (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Andrew Ng)

Why developer skills don’t always translate to working with AI

The difference between a “course” and a real certification

How employers actually view AI certs in hiring decisions

The skills (like prompt engineering) that still aren’t being formally taught

The lack of certifications for non-technical roles (sales, marketing)

Why AI certifications may never become standardized — and what to do instead