Handshake launches free AI project studio for job seekers

Handshake launched AI Skills Studio on Sept. 22, giving job seekers a free way to build AI projects that can be added to their profiles and featured in an AI Showcase accessible to more than one million employers using the platform to find talent, according to the company’s launch statement.

The studio is available on Handshake’s website and mobile app. Its personalized projects, called missions, take 10 to 45 minutes and include guidance and feedback from an AI Skills Instructor. Each ends with something the learner has built, such as an automated workflow or working software. Learners also receive a verified skill badge.

Launch partners include Google, OpenAI, Figma, Notion, Replit, Salesforce and Southern New Hampshire University. The projects extend beyond software development: early users have built data dashboards, personal portfolios and tools for sales and marketing roles, Handshake said.

More than 40 missions are available at launch, organized by career or topic, according to The AI Economy. Examples include building a daily briefing agent, creating a working prototype with OpenAI’s technology and building and deploying a custom Slack app.

The studio uses technology and project-based teaching methods from Uplimit, the AI learning company Handshake acquired, the launch statement said. Handshake is positioning the service as a supplement to academic learning: in its 2026 Network Trends Report, 58% of graduating seniors said they needed a stronger understanding of AI to succeed at work, while 28% said AI had been meaningfully integrated into their education program.