Women represent only 22% of AI professionals, 12% of researchers, and 18% of authors at major tech conferences. Meanwhile, 66% of employers already require artificial intelligence skills.

To close that gap, we’ve launched the 2026 edition of AI Skills 4 Women, in collaboration with Microsoft, a free, 100% online program available in 13+ languages so any woman can learn AI without prior technical experience.

In 2025, over 57,000 women across 30 countries completed the program and built more than 600 real AI projects. Additionally, 150 of them won full scholarships to continue their training with our AI and Innovation Certificate Program. These results led the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum to present AI Skills 4 Women at Davos as a case study on how artificial intelligence can transform education.

The 2025 Edition, By the Numbers

In March 2025, we launched the first edition of AI Skills 4 Women with a goal: train 10,000 women in four months. Within six months, the results exceeded all expectations:

• 57,000+ women trained across 30+ countries (570% above initial target)
• 600+ AI projects developed by participants applying what they learned
• 150 full scholarships awarded for advanced AI & Innovation programs
• 10,000+ daily interactions with our Founderz Fellows
• Completion rate 2x higher than the industry average

When you remove barriers like language, cost, or the need for prior technical experience, the demand to learn AI is massive. As Anna Cejudo, our co-CEO and co-founder, explains:

“As a woman entrepreneur and mother of three, I’ve experienced firsthand how women are underrepresented in tech and often made to feel they must choose between family and ambition.”

An Updated Program with Proven Results

For the 2026 edition, we’ve completely refreshed the modules to incorporate the latest AI tools and applications. The program still covers everything from AI fundamentals to practical application in real work situations, but now includes use cases tailored to specific sectors: healthcare, education, marketing, finance, human resources and entrepreneurship.

The program also features experts from Microsoft, including Jeana Jorgensen, Vice President of Worldwide Learning; Vânia Neto, EMEA Regional Marketing Manager; Emma Reid, Chief Learning Officer Europe North & South; Leticia Gammill, EMEA Security GTM Lead; and Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Principal Applied Scientist.

The format remains the same as in 2025: the entire program is 100% online, free, and available in 13+ languages. Upon completion, participants receive an official joint credential from Founderz and Microsoft certifying they’ve completed the course and are ready to apply AI in professional settings.

Three Pillars to Transform Education and Close the Gender Gap

The impact of AI Skills 4 Women didn’t go unnoticed. In January 2026, the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum presented the program at Davos as a case study within their “The Art of AI for Impact” initiative, which documents how social innovators are using artificial intelligence to solve global challenges.

The case study highlights three pillars of the model:

1. Democratizing Access. High-quality education, free of charge, without language barriers, technical requirements, or geographic limitations. Any woman can enroll and learn, regardless of her starting point.

2. Technology Serving People. Using AI in features like the Founderz Fellows to personalize learning at scale without losing the human element. Technology amplifies teachers’ capacity, it doesn’t replace them.

3. Coalitions That Multiply Impact. Joint work with Microsoft, UN Women, Women in Tech, WomenTech, STEM Talent Girls, Fundación ASTI, SHE is AI, and dozens of partner organizations that act as trusted bridges to their communities.

Sign Up Now and Get a Full Scholarship

Upon completion, participants who finish the final challenge will have the opportunity to win one of 150 full scholarships from Founderz and Microsoft for our AI and Innovation Certificate Program. Through this program, winners can dive deeper into advanced tools, develop more complex projects and continue learning with expert guidance.

In 2025, 57,000 women took the leap. This year, it’s your turn.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping education faster than ever. Teachers and students are increasingly using it in their daily work, but many educators still need practical guidance on how to use it effectively, ethically, and safely. That’s why Founderz and Microsoft have partnered to create AI Skills 4 Educators, a free program now available across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in nearly 20 languages.

Why Educators Need This program

The numbers tell a clear story. Recent data shows that nearly 70% of teachers in Europe have experimented with AI, and over 60% of students are already using it in their learning. What started as an emerging trend has become everyday reality in classrooms across the region.

But access doesn’t equal expertise. Many teachers are using AI tools without a clear framework for when and how to apply them effectively. Students, meanwhile, are often ahead of their teachers in adoption, but not necessarily in understanding the ethical implications or limitations of these tools.

The question isn’t whether AI belongs in education anymore. It’s how to integrate it responsibly, how to distinguish between helpful applications and distractions, and how to prepare students not just to use AI, but to think critically about it. This program gives educators the practical knowledge they need to navigate all of that.

What You’ll Actually Learn

This free online program, delivered by Founderz as a Microsoft learning partner, is built around real classroom scenarios. The program is structured to help educators:

• Save time on the work that drains you. Administrative tasks, grading repetitive assignments or drafting feedback. AI can handle much of this, freeing you up to focus on what actually matters: connecting with students, facilitating discussions, and providing personalized support where it counts.
• Personalize learning at scale. Every classroom has students working at different paces with different needs. The program shows you how to use AI to adapt content, suggest resources tailored to individual learning styles and identify where students are struggling before they fall behind.
• Use AI ethically and securely. This isn’t optional. The program provides clear, actionable guidance on privacy, data protection, and responsible use. You’ll learn what data AI tools collect, how to evaluate whether a tool is appropriate for your context, and how to set boundaries with students around AI use.
• Teach students to think critically about AI. Your students are already using these tools. The question is whether they understand how they work. where they fail and when relying on them is a mistake. This program equips you to guide those conversations and help students develop the judgment they’ll need as AI becomes more embedded in their lives.

Beyond the core modules, participants get access to the Educators Hub, a teacher-to-teacher community where you can share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from real examples of AI integration in classrooms across different subjects and grade levels.

Designed for Accessibility

The program is delivered in English with subtitles available in nearly 20 languages across the EMEA region. Whether you’re teaching in Berlin, Dubai, or Nairobi, you can access this training in a format that works for you.

The format is also flexible. Modules are short and self-paced, designed to fit into the reality of a teacher’s schedule. You don’t need to block out hours at a time, 15 or 20 minutes here and there is enough to make steady progress.

Why This Matters Beyond the Classroom

This initiative is part of Microsoft’s broader commitment to education and digital inclusion through Microsoft Elevate. But for us at Founderz, it’s about something more specific: making sure that as AI transforms how we work and learn, educators aren’t left behind.

Teachers are on the front lines of this shift. They’re the ones who will determine whether AI becomes a tool that enhances learning or just another layer of distraction. They’re the ones who will model responsible use for the next generation. And they’re the ones who need support, not just access to tools, but real training on how to use them well.

We believe AI should enhance teaching, not replace it. It should amplify what great educators already do: spark curiosity, build understanding, challenge assumptions and help students discover what they’re capable of. Done right, AI can make more of that possible. Done poorly, it can get in the way.

As Sonia Marzo, Director of AI Training at Microsoft Spain, explains:

“We’re past the point of asking whether AI will be part of education. Students are already using it. The real question is how we integrate it thoughtfully and responsibly. Educators need to lead this change, and that starts with training. Through this program with Founderz, we’re equipping teachers to make AI a force for lasting, positive change in their classrooms—always with clear purpose and always centered on developing human potential.”

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re an educator looking to understand how AI can fit into your teaching, not as a replacement for what you do, but as a tool that makes more of it possible, this program is for you.

Enroll free in the AI Skills for Educators and join the community shaping the future of education.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future trend: it’s reshaping how we work, innovate, and make decisions. It is without a doubt that practical AI training has become a priority for professionals, leaders, and organizations around the world. In order to help train more people globally, we are announcing a strategic alliance between Founderz and Babson College to bring AI training to the United States.

This initiative combines Founderz’s vision for applied digital education with the academic excellence of Babson College, an internationally recognized institution known for leadership entrepreneurship, innovation, and executive education. Together, we aim to to democratize access to AI education.

Joining Forces to Lead the Era of AI

The United States is one of the world’s main hubs for technological innovation. However, many people and companies still face the challenge of applying AI in a real, responsible, and effective way in their day‑to‑day work.

The collaboration between Founderz and Babson College was created to help close this gap by offering an online learning pathway designed to move from theory to action, without requiring a coding or technical background.

Practical AI Learning for Professionals and Leaders

The program is structured around the Certificate in AI & Innovation, a learning pathway made up of four progressive badges.

• Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (Starter Badge)
  An introduction to AI’s impact on productivity and decision‑making, principles of prompt engineering, and responsible AI use.
• Methodology for Innovation with Artificial Intelligence
  Application of the AI‑THINK framework to identify opportunities, validate ideas, and create AI‑powered solutions.
• Creating Video, Image, and Sound with Artificial Intelligence
  Hands‑on use of generative AI tools to create visual, audio, and video content—no design experience required.
• Creating Agents and Solutions with Artificial Intelligence
  Designing AI agents and no‑code solutions to automate processes and improve business operations.

Upon completing the four badges, participants earn the Certificate in AI & Innovation, endorsed by Babson College, Founderz and Microsoft.

Faculty

The program features a faculty of industry leaders and academic experts who bring a unique combination of strategic vision, hands‑on experience, and applied AI knowledge. The roster includes founders, executives, and technology specialists from organizations such as Founderz and Microsoft, offering an entrepreneurial perspective, a methodology for innovative thinking, and real‑world AI practice throughout the program.

Program Faculty

• Anna Cejudo – Co-Founder & Co‑CEO, Founderz
• Jeana Jorgensen – Corporate Vice President of Global Skilling, Microsoft
• Nina Rapp – Business Group Lead for Modern Work, Microsoft
• Anna Ogan – Program Manager, Founderz
• Mihaela Vorvoreanu – Principal Applied Scientist, Microsoft
• Jeff Frey – Founder & CEO, Vital Competence
• Andrea Fogel – Senior Global Solution Architect – AI Business Solutions – AI Workforce, Microsoft
• Usman Afzal – Solution Architect and Productivity Coach, Microsoft
• Stuart Ridout – Global Customer Success Technical Strategy Leader, Microsoft

AI to Innovate, Create, and Scale

One of the program’s key differentiators is its practical focus. Throughout the pathway, participants learn to:

• Understand how generative AI works and how to apply it in real‑world contexts.
• Use AI as a copilot for research, creativity, and decision‑making.
• Implement solutions that improve operational efficiency and the experience of both customers and teams.
• Innovate in a structured, ethical, and impact‑oriented way.

All content is 100% online and flexible, designed for working professionals who want to upskill without pausing their careers.

Founderz and Babson College: A Strategic commitment to the US Market

For Founderz, this agreement with Babson College marks a key step in our international expansion into the United States. For Babson, it is an opportunity to integrate a practical, technology‑driven approach focused on the future of work into its academic offering.

Both institutions share a common vision: to democratize access to AI education and prepare tomorrow’s leaders for an environment in which AI will be a critical competitive advantage.

Accessible, Relevant, and Impact‑Driven Learning

Our Founderz–Babson alliance reflects a clear conviction: AI is not reserved for technical profiles. It is a cross‑functional capability that can enhance creativity, innovation, and decision‑making in any sector.

This program is designed for executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to understand, apply, and lead change, turning AI into a real lever for growth.

Founderz’s work applying artificial intelligence to sports made its way to California this October. Our Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Anna Cejudo, was invited to present the CE Europa Women’s Team case study at the USC Next Level Sports Conference, one of the leading events focused on the future of sports, technology, and the entertainment industry.

Held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and organized by the USC Annenberg School and the USC Marshall School of Business, the event brought together global leaders such as Roger Goodell, Maria Sharapova, and Casey Wasserman.

In this setting, Anna shared how our project with the CE Europa Women’s Team demonstrates that artificial intelligence can elevate athletic performance and open new pathways for athletes’ professional development.

The project that redefined how AI is applied in sports

During her presentation, Anna introduced one of the most representative projects of our work in AI for sports: our collaboration with CE Europa Women’s Team. What began as a learning experiment eventually became a real example of sports transformation powered by data.

Anna described how, just over a year ago, a team fighting to avoid relegation decided to turn to artificial intelligence to analyze their performance, optimize decision-making, and professionalize processes typically accessible only to clubs with large budgets.

With the support of Microsoft Copilot and a group of five international Founderz students working as data analysts, Europa improved its corner-kick effectiveness by up to 28%, reached 89% accuracy in tactical predictions, and generated a 14x economic return on the initial investment.

That competitive leap culminated in a historic promotion to the 1ª RFEF, one of the most demanding tiers in Spanish women’s football.

Anna also highlighted a key point: this model not only boosts athletic performance, it also creates real professional opportunities. Fifteen Europa players have already trained with Founderz in AI and are applying those skills in their careers beyond the pitch.

Our perspective on AI in sports

The CE Europa Women’s Team case reflects a belief that has guided our work for some time: artificial intelligence is no longer a tool reserved for tech elites, it is a strategic resource capable of professionalizing any sport. At Founderz, we believe the sports industry is at a turning point, and those who embrace AI will shape its transformation in the years ahead.

With this vision in mind, and in collaboration with the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) powered by Microsoft, we developed an Online Program in AI in Sports. This training initiative was created to address a growing need within the industry at a moment when the global market for AI-driven sports solutions is expanding at an unprecedented pace.

The program features insights from organizations such as LaLiga, Real Madrid, ONE Championship and Cricket Australia, along with the participation of Microsoft experts. It is designed for clubs, leagues, federations, sports companies, and professionals seeking to position themselves at the forefront of innovation.

This is the vision that drives us: making AI accessible, practical, and responsible within the sports world, and supporting those who aim to lead its evolution.

Founderz has been recognized as Best Training Partner in the Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards 2025 in Spain, an award that highlights partners who demonstrate consistent commitment to innovation, digital upskilling, and the adoption of artificial intelligence in professional and educational environments.

For Founderz, this recognition represents a major step forward in a collaboration that has strengthened over time. The partnership with Microsoft has made it possible to develop large-scale training projects and launch initiatives that have accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence across different countries and sectors.

An award that strengthens our work in AI education

Founderz is part of the Microsoft ecosystem as a Global Training Partner, a role that allows us to design our programs in direct collaboration with the company. Thanks to this, tools like Microsoft Copilot and regularly updated AI content have been part of our academic offering from the very beginning.

This collaboration has also produced high-impact projects, such as the initiative developed with CE Europa Femenino, selected by Microsoft to appear on the Windows home and lock screen. This piece, visible to hundreds of millions of users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other international markets, showcased how artificial intelligence can transform both athletic performance and training opportunities for the players.

In addition, we have promoted initiatives aimed at democratizing access to AI education. AI Skills 4 Women has provided free training to women across Europe and the Middle East. In the Comunidad de Madrid, more than 100,000 young people have received AI training focused on employability. Together with the Princess of Girona Foundation, another 200,000 students have been able to discover the potential of artificial intelligence for their academic and professional development.

These efforts are complemented by AI in Action, a program designed for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin adopting AI through accessible, results-oriented solutions. In the academic sphere, the ERIA Chair, developed with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Microsoft, reinforces our commitment to employability and to the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Altogether, these initiatives have helped Founderz surpass 300,000 students trained in artificial intelligence, consolidating a trajectory that Microsoft now recognizes with the Best Training Partner 2025 award.

Moving forward with Microsoft to strengthen our leadership

Being part of the Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards 2025 is both recognition of the work accomplished and the start of a new stage in which AI education will continue evolving. Collaboration with Microsoft will allow us to expand the reach of our programs, integrate new tools, and strengthen responsible AI adoption across organizations in diverse sectors.

The Best Training Partner award places Founderz within an ecosystem defined by innovation, technical excellence, and collaboration. Sharing this edition with companies leading areas such as security, data, and responsible artificial intelligence reinforces our commitment to providing education that prepares professionals and organizations to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

At Founderz, we understand that trust is key in the world of finance. If you’re a professional in the industry or looking to make the leap into financial advising, you might be wondering: what is the EFPA certification, and how can I get it?

In this article, I’ll explain it clearly, step by step, with no unnecessary fluff.

What is EFPA Certification?

The EFPA certification, or EFPA certificate as you may also see it written, is a professional accreditation designed to measure and validate the knowledge, skills, and ethics of those in financial advising and planning.

EFPA stands for the European Financial Planning Association, and in Spain, it serves as the certifying body for professionals in the industry. In other words, it’s a way to demonstrate to employers, clients, or regulators that you have the proper knowledge to provide financial advice with confidence.

One important point is that EFPA certifications are not for life: to maintain their validity, you must engage in ongoing training and meet specific recertification requirements.

Here are the different levels or modalities that exist:

• EIA (European Investment Assistant): basic level for professionals who provide information about investment products.
• EIP (European Investment Practitioner): intermediate level, for providing specific investment advice.
• EFA (European Financial Advisor): the most widely held certification, valid for comprehensive financial advising for individuals.
• EFP (European Financial Planner): the highest level, focused on comprehensive financial planning, including complex wealth, tax, and succession aspects.

For example, the EFP certification has grown by 40% in the past five years in Spain, with over 1,000 professionals already holding this title. This reflects a growing interest in achieving high standards in financial planning.

What is EFPA certification useful for?

Having the EFPA certificate can offer many concrete benefits:

• Professional Recognition: It builds trust with clients and acts as a quality seal for banks and asset management firms.
• Regulatory Compliance: in Spain, many advisory or investment information functions require proof of competencies accepted by the CNMV. EFPA is one of the recognized paths for this.
• Continuous Improvement: since the certification requires recertification and yearly training, it forces you to stay up-to-date.
• Market Differentiation: if you’re aspiring to roles in private banking, EAFIs, asset management firms, or as an independent advisor, having a solid EFPA certification will open more doors.
• Career Progression: you can start with the more basic levels (EIA, EIP) and move up to EFP if you’re interested in handling more complex cases.

Requirements to take the EFPA certification exam

Before you dive into studying, it’s important to review what is required to access the EFPA certification exam (and maintain it afterwards). These requirements vary by level, but some common conditions are:

• Have an academic degree (e.g., High School, Vocational Training, or equivalent).
• Prove professional experience in the financial sector: for example, the EFA level might require at least 1 year of experience, or 6 months if you’ve completed a preparatory course at an accredited center.
• No criminal record for intentional crimes, no major sanctions from regulatory bodies, etc.
• Become a member of EFPA (once the exam is passed).
• Meet recertification hours: for example, those with EIP or EFA certifications must complete around 30 hours of continuing education (or equivalent) each year, or as per EFPA’s requirements.

Each exam session sets deadlines for registration, required documents, and exam fees. Usually, you’ll need to submit your resume, academic degree, certificate of experience (if required), and pay the exam fees.

How to prepare for the EFPA certification exam?

Achieving certification isn’t just about passing an exam; it’s also about how you plan your study. Here’s a roadmap:

1. Choose an accredited program or center

Look for financial schools or centers offering preparatory courses recognized by EFPA.

2. Set a realistic study schedule

Divide the curriculum into sections (markets, products, regulations, case studies) and assign daily study times.

3. Use practice exams and case studies

Doing many exercises, mock exams, and solving real cases will help you familiarize yourself with the format and the type of reasoning expected.

4. Focus on regulations and ethics

A key part of the EFPA certification is understanding regulatory rules, professional ethics, and the legal boundaries of advising. It’s not just financial theory.

5. Review and revise ahead of time

Dedicate the final weeks to reviewing weak points, doing full mock exams, and polishing your arguments for the practical part.

6. Complete formal requirements

Register for the exam in advance, submit documents, pay fees, and send certificates of experience if necessary.

Maintaining and recertifying your EFPA certification

Once you have the EFPA certification, it’s not enough to just leave it there. The certification requires periodic recertification, which involves:

• Completing a minimum number of continuing education hours each year (or the period specified by EFPA).
• Adhering to EFPA’s ethical codes and professional conduct standards.
• Renewing your membership with EFPA as an active member.

If you fail to meet these requirements, you can lose the validity of your certificate, which would affect your professional recognition and your ability to work under that accreditation.

Steps to get the EFPA certification

For a clear overview, here’s a summary of what you need to do:

1. Check that you meet the academic and experience requirements.
   
2. Enroll in an accredited preparatory course.
   
3. Study the entire curriculum with practice exams.
   
4. Register for the exam in advance.
   
5. Pass both parts of the exam (theoretical + practical).
   
6. Become an EFPA member and accept their ethical code.
   
7. Keep the certification active with continuing education and recertification.
   

The EFPA certification is not just another title: it’s a recognized professional accreditation that positions you with credibility in the financial market. By obtaining it, you demonstrate that you have solid knowledge, professional ethics, and the ability to advise competently within the regulated environment.

Of course, it’s not an easy path: it requires study, rigor, and continuous maintenance. But if your goal is to become a recognized financial advisor, it’s one of the best credentials you can pursue.

We’re thrilled to share that in the coming weeks, our story will appear on the Microsoft Windows Start and Lock screens, visible to hundreds of millions of users across the U.S., the U.K., and other English-speaking markets:

Microsoft selected the project we launched with the CE Europa women’s team to showcase how artificial intelligence can transform sports, as part of the first edition of its new global media platform, Signal Magazine.

The feature, titled “Changing the Game”, highlights how we use tools like Microsoft Copilot to analyze data, optimize strategies, and boost the competitive performance of the team we sponsor. The results speak for themselves:

• 28% increase in corner kick effectiveness
• 89% accuracy in tactical predictions
• 14x return on investment

Beyond soccer: technology that changes lives

Beyond the field, this project had a meaningful human impact. Every CE Europa player received an AI training scholarship through our platform. Today, many are applying that knowledge in their professional lives, proving that technology doesn’t just change games, it changes lives.

In the words of Pau Garcia-Milà, Co-founder of Founderz:
“Artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool, it’s a way to empower human talent.”

Recognition that fuels our mission

This milestone strengthens our mission to democratize AI education and make it accessible across industries. In collaboration with Microsoft and the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC), we’ve developed programs like our Online Program in AI in Sports, designed to help clubs, federations and professionals integrate AI into their everyday strategies.

As Anna Cejudo, Co-founder of Founderz, puts it:
“Being featured on the Windows lock screen is incredible recognition, but more importantly, it shows that educational innovation can inspire far beyond the classroom.”

Our mission continues

At Founderz, we believe knowledge should be accessible, practical and transformative. That’s why we remain committed to bringing AI to more people, more industries and more corners of the world.

From Barcelona to the world, we’re still changing the game.

For years, graphic design has been a territory dominated by intuition, human talent, and the ability to visually communicate complex ideas. However, the arrival of artificial intelligence in graphic design has changed the game.

What once required hours of sketches, adjustments, or color testing, can now be done in minutes with tools powered by algorithms capable of learning from the creative process itself.

But beyond the technical impact, AI in graphic design raises an interesting question: Are we facing a threat to creativity or a new way to enhance it?

What does it really mean to use AI in graphic design?

When we talk about AI in graphic design, we’re not simply referring to programs that “do the work for us.” What’s really happening is a collaboration between human and machine. AI has become a creative assistant, capable of suggesting color combinations, generating original fonts, or even creating images from scratch based on a textual concept.

Tools like Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, or DALL-E 3 have shown that AI for graphic design can be a constant source of inspiration. It’s no longer just about automating tasks, but about expanding the creative horizon.

For example, a designer can generate several versions of a poster in a matter of seconds and then refine the details with their personal touch. This synergy between technology and creativity is redefining how the design process is conceived.

How artificial intelligence is changing the day-to-day life of designers

From repetitive tasks to creative exploration

One of the greatest benefits of AI in graphic design is the elimination of routine tasks. Resizing, background cleaning, vectorization, or color palette selection can now be automated with great precision. This frees up time for what really matters: conceptual creativity.

Instead of spending hours on execution, professionals can focus on the message, emotion, or visual narrative. That is, on what makes the design unique.

Personalization as the standard

Artificial intelligence has also opened the door to an unprecedented level of personalization. Thanks to data analysis, designers can better understand which styles or compositions work for different audiences.

For example, a brand can generate hundreds of versions of the same campaign tailored to different regions, ages, or interests. What was once unthinkable due to time and budget constraints is now a reality accessible even to small creative teams.

Will AI replace the graphic designer?

This is one of the most frequently asked, and also one of the most misframed, questions. AI for graphic design does not aim to replace professionals, but to enhance their capabilities.

Just as photography didn’t eliminate painting or computers didn’t replace pencils, AI simply becomes a new tool in the designer’s arsenal. The important thing isn’t mastering the technology, but knowing how to interpret it.

And it makes sense: empathy, aesthetic sensitivity, and narrative ability are still deeply human attributes.

Real-life cases: AI as an ally in the creative process

 Faster and more consistent visual identities

More and more design studios are using artificial intelligence in graphic design to generate complete visual systems. From choosing complementary fonts to creating dynamic logos, AI allows for rapid prototyping of identities while maintaining strong visual consistency.

Endless inspiration

Another great advantage is the generation of visual ideas. By simply entering a description, AI can create multiple versions of the same concept. This allows designers to explore paths they may not have considered traditionally. Instead of limiting creativity, AI amplifies it.

New profiles and skills for the future of design

The rise of AI in graphic design is also generating new professional profiles. Future designers will not only need to understand composition, color, or typography but also prompts, machine learning, and digital ethics.

In fact, many companies are already seeking professionals capable of combining artistic sensitivity with technological vision. Knowing how to interact with an AI tool, understanding its biases, or adjusting its results is now part of the job.

This is where training plays a key role. Programs like the AI & Innovation from Founderz show how artificial intelligence is transforming the creative field. If you’re interested in learning how to apply AI in a practical and creative way, this training could be an excellent starting point.

 Challenges and ethical dilemmas in using AI for graphic design

Although the benefits are clear, important issues arise. One of the biggest challenges is authorship: if an image is generated by a model trained with millions of works, who does it really belong to?

Another delicate aspect is the responsible use of data. Some tools use existing images to learn visual patterns, which may raise copyright issues. Therefore, it is essential that design professionals adopt a critical stance and understand the ethical implications of the technology they use.

Additionally, there’s the risk of visual homogenization. If all designers use the same models or prompts, the results could start to look too similar. That’s why the difference will still lie in the human perspective: how we interpret, mix, and reimagine what AI offers us.

Looking to the future of design with artificial intelligence

What’s happening with AI in graphic design is comparable to the digital revolution of the 2000s. Editing programs transformed the craft, but they never eliminated the designer’s role. The same will happen now: those who embrace this technology will have a clear competitive advantage.

The future of design won’t just be about aesthetics, but also intelligence, strategy, and adaptability. And in that context, AI is not a substitute, but a traveling companion that can help us explore visual terrain that once seemed unreachable.

Artificial intelligence has arrived to stay, and understanding it is essential for any creative professional. If you want to take a step further and learn how to apply these technologies in an ethical, strategic, and real way, we recommend exploring the educational offerings of Founderz.

Because understanding AI is no longer an option: it’s part of the professional future. And the best time to start learning is today.

AI in graphic design doesn’t eliminate human creativity; it enhances it. It allows us to imagine more, test more, and go further. And while algorithms are powerful, it’s still the designer’s eye, mind, and heart that give meaning to every image.

Today, we are familiar with numerous data sources coming from messages, social media, emails, audios, reviews… and there is a growing need for systems to “understand” what humans say or write. This is where Natural Language Processing (NLP) comes in.

In this article, we will explore what NLP is, what it’s used for, its challenges, and how it can play a key role in products or services for companies.

NLP: a simple overview

What is NLP?

“NLP” stands for Natural Language Processing. It refers to the field or set of techniques that enable machines to interpret, analyze, process, and generate human language, either written or spoken, in a way that makes sense to us.

In other words: it’s the ability for a computer to understand what you say or write, in your language, with your expressions, your ambiguities, your nuances. It’s not magic; it’s a combination of linguistics, statistics, machine learning, and a lot of engineering.

According to IBM, Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a “subfield of computer science and artificial intelligence that uses machine learning to enable computers to understand and communicate with human language, combining linguistic rules, statistical modeling, and deep learning techniques.”

Therefore, when we talk about NLP, we are talking about the ability to bring machines closer to natural human language.

Why does Natural Language Processing matter?

Here are a few reasons why Natural Language Processing (NLP) is gaining traction in many industries:

• Scalability in text data analysis: companies accumulate massive amounts of opinions, emails, chat logs, reports, etc. It’s impossible to process it all manually. NLP allows for the automation of extracting insights.
  
• Improved customer experience: with chatbots, virtual assistants, or automated response systems, you can offer instant, personalized customer service available 24/7.
  
• Sentiment and reputation analysis: knowing whether users are happy or not, what words they use to describe your brand, and detecting emerging trends.
  
• Automation of repetitive tasks: from writing automatic summaries, translating texts, to correcting grammar or generating basic content.
  
• Fraud detection, compliance, and contract mining: in sectors like finance or legal, NLP helps detect clauses, anomalies, risks, without someone needing to read thousands of pages.

For example, Zendesk claims that NLP enables smarter chatbots that step in just when needed, identify user intent, and escalate complex cases.

As you can see, NLP is not something distant; it’s already very present, even if we don’t always notice it.

Some common NLP examples you might know

To make the concept clearer, let’s look at some common applications:

• Email filters (Spam / Not Spam / Promotions): the system analyzes the message’s content and decides where to place it.
  
• Virtual assistants: they convert speech to text, interpret intent, and respond coherently.
  
• Automatic translation: tools that use advanced NLP techniques to provide translations in various languages.
  
• Automatic summarization: turning long texts into concise summaries that capture the essentials.
  
• Social media sentiment analysis: detecting if a comment is positive, negative, or neutral, and identifying trends in opinions.
  
• Ticket or email classification in support systems: automatically assigning topics or urgency levels.
  

These examples show that NLP is behind many of the small conveniences of digital life.

How does natural language processing work?

Although we won’t dive into formulas, it’s helpful to understand the basic stages or components of NLP to see where the complexity lies:

Tokenization and cleaning

Words, punctuation, and sentences are separated. Unnecessary symbols are removed, and the text is normalized (lowercase, removing accents, etc.).

Tagging and syntactic analysis

Each word is labeled with its role (noun, verb, adjective), and the sentence structure is analyzed. This step helps understand how words relate to each other.

Entity and relationship extraction

Recognizing proper names, dates, places, organizations, and relationships between them. For example, in “Apple bought Beats,” recognizing “Apple” as a company, “Beats” as a brand, and the relationship between them.

Sentiment/Intent analysis

Determining whether a text expresses something positive, negative, or neutral, or identifying the intent behind it (“want to buy,” “ask,” “complain”).

Language generation

Not only understanding but also generating coherent sentences, like responding in a chatbot, summarizing, or writing automatic texts.

What makes NLP so challenging is that human language is full of ambiguities, idioms, contexts, and irony… and each language has its own particularities.

A key aspect is representing language in vectors, known as word embeddings, which allow words to have “similar vectors” if they appear in similar contexts.

Moreover, many modern techniques use deep learning models based on transformers (like BERT, GPT) to capture long-range context. Studies on the evolution of NLP highlight that models like GPT-5 or BERT have made significant advances in linguistic understanding and generation.

NLP challenges and limitations

Not everything is perfect. Some of the challenges NLP faces include:

• Linguistic ambiguity: the same sentence can be interpreted in many ways depending on the context.
  
• Figurative language, irony, sarcasm: hard for a machine to pick up on these nuances.
  
• Low-resource languages: languages with limited available data have fewer tools. For example, Spanish still has many gaps.
  
• Bias in training data: if models are trained on biased data, they will reproduce those biases.
  
• Computational cost: large models require significant resources (memory, processing power).
  
• Interpretability: it’s not always clear why a model made a specific decision.
  

That’s why NLP tends to perform well in specific, well-defined tasks (classification, extraction) and less well when dealing with more general or free-form content.

NLP in the educational environment

At Founderz, we offer advanced AI training, and as part of our programs, we include NLP modules in the Online Certificate Program in AI and Innovation so that students not only understand how machines “understand” human language in various fields but can also apply it practically.

Thus, Natural Language Processing (NLP) isn’t just an abstract concept; it’s a practical tool for creating real value.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is the gateway that allows machines to “read” and “write” like us, dealing with the nuances of human language. While it faces challenges like ambiguity, cost, and biases, its applications are already present in services we use every day.

If you’re interested in exploring how Natural Language Processing (NLP) can transform your project or business, contact us. We’d be happy to help you get started practically and with visible results.

In recent years, businesses have faced a significant rise in cyberattacks. However, not all attacks have the same nature or pursue the same goals.

Some, like whaling, target a very specific profile: executives and top management. And while it might sound rare or unlikely, the truth is that it’s one of the most damaging and hardest-to-detect threats any organization can face.

In this article, we’ll clearly explain what whaling is, how it differs from other types of digital fraud, and, most importantly, how you can protect your team and company from this kind of attack.

What Is Whaling?

The term whaling literally means “whale hunting”. In cybersecurity, it refers to a type of phishing attack specifically aimed at executives, CEOs, CFOs, and anyone with decision-making power within a company.

The logic is simple: instead of launching mass attacks (as in traditional phishing), cybercriminals focus all their attention on one high-value target. If they manage to deceive that person, the financial reward or access to confidential information can be enormous.

This type of attack is also known as whaling phishing or spear whaling, and it often comes in the form of emails, fake messages, or even carefully crafted phone calls that appear legitimate.

The difference between Phishing, Spear Phishing, and Whaling

To better understand what whaling involves, it’s useful to compare it with related techniques:

• Phishing: a mass attack sent to thousands of people indiscriminately, hoping that someone “takes the bait” by clicking a malicious link.
• Spear phishing: a more personalized attack, where the criminal researches the victim to craft a convincing message.
• Whaling: an even more specialized version of spear phishing, targeting top executives or “big fish” within an organization.

In other words, all whaling attacks are a form of spear phishing, but not all spear phishing attacks are whaling.

How a Whaling attacks works?

A whaling attack isn’t improvised. It requires time, research, and preparation. Cybercriminals study their target before taking action.

Typical stages of an attack:

1. Research: gathering public data from social media, corporate websites, press releases, etc.
2. Message design: creating an email or communication that perfectly mimics a supplier, partner, or colleague’s tone and style.
3. Deception: the message often includes urgent requests, such as money transfers, sharing financial data, or opening malicious attachments.
4. Execution: once the victim responds, the attacker gains access to funds, credentials, or strategic information.

Why is Whaling so dangerous?

There are several reasons why whaling is one of the most dangerous forms of cyberattack:

• High success rate: executives are often busy and tend to trust messages from familiar contacts or vendors.
• Severe financial impact: a single transfer can result in losses of millions.
• Privileged access: compromising an executive’s account can open the door to sensitive information or manipulation of other employees.
• Reputational damage: falling victim to such an attack can undermine the trust of clients, investors, and partners.

Warning signs of a Whaling attempt

Although each attack may differ, some red flags are worth watching for:

• Emails with an unusual tone of urgency (“do this immediately,” “don’t tell anyone”).
• Requests for transfers to new or international accounts.
• Slight changes in email addresses.
• Messages sent outside business hours or during holidays (when fewer staff are available).
• Unexpected attachments or shortened links.

How to protect your company from Whaling?

Prevention is the best defense against whaling. Installing antivirus software isn’t enough, the most effective strategy combines technology, processes, and training.

1. Establish verification protocols

Before making any bank transfer or sharing sensitive information, there should always be a double-verification process. For example, an internal phone call to confirm the request.

2. Raise awareness among executives

Since attacks target high-level executives, they are precisely the ones who need cybersecurity training the most.

3. Use advanced security tools

Email filtering systems, multifactor authentication, and threat detection tools all help reduce risk.

4. Conduct regular simulations

Running internal whaling phishing simulations can help executives recognize and respond to attempts in a controlled environment.

5. Build a security culture

It’s not just about “following rules.” Everyone, from employees to executives, should understand that cybersecurity is a key part of business strategy.

The role of training: a long-term investment in security

Many organizations underestimate the importance of training their leaders in cybersecurity. Yet, the human factor remains the weakest link in the security chain.

At Founderz, we have an AI and Innovation Certificate Program, designed to help executives and professionals understand today’s risks, learn to identify attacks like whaling, and apply best practices in their daily work.

Whaling isn’t a buzzword or a theoretical concept, it’s a real threat that has cost companies around the world millions. The key is recognizing that attacks don’t always come in the form of complex viruses, but often through a simple email that exploits someone’s trust.

Protecting your organization isn’t impossible, it just takes clear protocols, the right tools, and, most importantly, well-trained people.

If you’re ready to start strengthening your company’s defenses against whaling and other digital risks, learn more about Founderz’s program and take the first step toward lasting cybersecurity.