Honda is offering employees a monthly bonus of up to about $920 for advanced AI skills. The Japanese automaker created a three-level AI certification program. Employees take a written exam and interview to qualify. Only 280 of roughly 45,000 employees have earned certification so far. Fewer than 10 qualify for the top bonus. Honda aims to grow its pool of certified AI specialists to 1,000. Certified workers are expected to apply AI in their roles, train colleagues, and support broader adoption in manufacturing and operations. The program reflects a push to tie AI proficiency directly to compensation. Fewer than 10 percent of large Japanese companies currently offer similar direct financial incentives for AI use.
Honda is offering employees a monthly bonus of up to about $920 for advanced AI skills. The Japanese automaker created a three-level AI certification program. Employees take a written exam and interview to qualify. Only 280 of roughly 45,000 employees have earned certification so far. Fewer than 10 qualify for the top bonus. Honda aims to grow its pool of certified AI specialists to 1,000. Certified workers are expected to apply AI in their roles, train colleagues, and support broader adoption in manufacturing and operations. The program reflects a push to tie AI proficiency directly to compensation. Fewer than 10 percent of large Japanese companies currently offer similar direct financial incentives for AI use.