How Levi's AI Bootcamp Homegrows Data Science Talent

In what may be a sign of the times, Levi Strauss & Co. launched a first for the denim company: an artificial intelligence and machine learning bootcamp. But this one's not necessarily just for its engineers or tech developers -- it's also for the nontechie set in areas, like retail. Started in May 2021, the program saw its first wave of students graduate and take their training to different areas of the organization. The company marked the moment in a blog post published Tuesday. In it, Levi's described the Machine Learning Bootcamp as "an intensive, full-time, fully paid eight-week training program where [participants] left their day-to-day jobs to complete this unique program. In the bootcamp's inaugural cohort, we trained more than 40 employees -- 63 percent of whom were female, representing 14 locations around the world with employees from corporate, retail stores, distribution centers, and data centers."