Google launches $75M AI training initiative
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Google announced the launch of a $75 million AI Opportunity Fund aimed at providing artificial intelligence (AI) skills training to over one million Americans.
The fund will provide grants to workforce development organizations and educational institutes across the country.
“People need to know that AI tools hallucinate. They need to know that there can be inherent biases in these tools and that it’s important to have a human in the loop when you’re using them,” said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Google’s “Grow with Google” program.
The initiative includes a new $49 online course called “Google AI Essentials” offered through Coursera. The course covers foundational AI skills, best practices, and responsible AI use. It is designed to be accessible without prior experience or degrees.
Google partnering with organizations to upskill the workforce
Google will partner with organizations like Goodwill Industries International and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families to deliver the AI training.
“This isn’t just about preparing people to become programmers, or help desk people, or that type of thing; it’s about giving people what are increasingly gateway skills,” said Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill.
Preston noted most Goodwill employees have a high school education or less. “There’s a very significant ability for people to increase their income if they break through these basic digital skill levels,” he said.
This is not Google’s first workforce training effort. The company says it has trained over 11 million workers in digital skills since 2017 through partnerships like with Goodwill.
“Our society is so far past the point where you can learn everything you’ll need to know for your career during a college education. Things change too quickly,” Gevelber stated. “People are great learners.”
Employers prefer, willing to pay more for AI skills over experience
The $75 million fund underscores the intensifying competition among tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI to lead the generative AI revolution and secure skilled talent.
A ResumeTemplates survey found that over half (56%) of hiring managers said they would prefer to hire someone with fewer years of experience but more AI skills.
Shockingly, 1 in 10 would opt for a candidate with expert AI skills but only 1 year of relevant work experience over someone with 10 years of experience.
Moreover, employers are willing to pay 47% higher salaries on average for information technology (IT) professionals possessing AI skills, a study by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Access Partnership revealed.
Beyond IT, companies indicated willingness to pay AI skill premiums across departments like sales and marketing (43% more) and human resources (35% more).
