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Microsoft has officially set a new world record for the most people to complete an online artificial intelligence lesson within 24 hours. More than 120,000 people participated in a course on April 7, taught by Scott Brant, on how to use Copilot chat to streamline work. That was more than enough to unseat the previous title holder and earn recognition from Guinness World Records.
The milestone attempt helped kick off Microsoft’s AI Skills Fest, a 50-day global event held to help people advance their AI technical knowledge, regardless of their skill level.
“This collective achievement is a testament to the power of community, commitment to learning, and spirit of innovation that drives us all,” Jeana Jorgensen, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of learning, says in a blog post. “The record is a tribute to every person who is investing their time and energy to learn a new AI skill or help others build their AI expertise.”
GUVI Geek Network Private Limited and the Government of Uttar Pradesh in India were the previous record holders. They were awarded the title on September 22, 2024, after hosting an event with 46,045 attendees. Microsoft topped that number by 174 percent with 126,151 participants.
Although Microsoft is the only one to be officially recognized in Guinness’s books, everyone who took Brant’s course should receive a participation badge.
The AI Skills Fest runs through May 28, 2025, and is an effort to train the next generation of knowledge workers. The idea is to prepare them for a world filled with AI agents or digital labor. Participants can earn badges and certificates. There are weekly challenges in which select winners are eligible for prizes, including vouchers for certification exams.
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Featured Image: Microsoft sets a world record for the most people taking a single AI lesson in 24 hours. Credit: Microsoft
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