Google's Global AI Education Initiative: Shaping the Future Workforce and Policy Landscape

Google Reportedly Wants to Educate Professionals and Regulators on AI

The initiative's effort will be on workers who might get displaced by AI Google is reportedly planning to heavily invest in artificial intelligence (AI) education. The Mountain View-based tech giant's efforts are said to be concentrated on professionals working in the technology and allied fields as well as regulators and lawmakers who will determine the future of AI. As per the report, the company wants to create both certification courses as well as introduce trade-specific AI knowledge at the college level to help learners gain employment in the AI industry. Notably, Google had committed $120 million (roughly Rs. 1,035 crores) for AI education last year. Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Alphabet (Google's parent company), told Reuters that training the workforce on AI is a key priority for the company. Alongside, the tech giant also hopes that these efforts will help regulators and lawmakers make better decisions about AI in the future. "Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities - it's a virtuous cycle," He was quoted as saying. Notably, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced an investment fund of $120 million in September 2024 to make AI education and training available globally. Pichai stated that the company will partner with nonprofit and civil society organisations to provide training in local languages based on courses designed by Google. The company's executives are reportedly discussing policy recommendations with governments across the world. A major focus of AI-focused educational programmes is said to be on workers who might be displaced by the technology in the near future. The company reportedly wants to expand its existing initiatives such as Grow with Google as well as introduce new online and in-person programmes that provide business-focused training and tools. These will also be skill-based and focus on data analysis or IT support roles. At the same time, the tech giant is said to be aware that courses alone cannot prepare workers. Addressing the concern, Walker told the publication, "What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job." For this, Google is reportedly working on public-private partnerships such as the "Skilled Trades and Readiness" programme. For this initiative, the company partnered with US-based community colleges to train students for potential jobs constructing data centres. AI education is reportedly also being added to the programme. Notably, the decision to educate workers on AI comes at a time when Google is facing several regulatory scrutinies in different territories. In the European Union (EU), the company is reportedly planning to sell a part of its ad tech business after questions were raised on its Search platform. In the US, an antitrust case determining the monopoly of the Google Chrome browser is ongoing.

Google pushes global agenda to educate workers, lawmakers on AI

As Google races to best Big Tech rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Meta in the AI arena, it is mindful of the heavy regulatory scrutiny it faces in its existing businesses in advertising and search. Alphabet's Google, already facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation. A key priority, one executive told Reuters, comes in building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI. "Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities - it's a virtuous cycle," said Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs. As Google races to best Big Tech rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Meta in the AI arena, it is mindful of the heavy regulatory scrutiny it faces in its existing businesses in advertising and search. In the European Union, Google has offered to sell a part of its ad tech business to appease regulators, reported. In the US, the Justice Department is attempting to force a breakup of its Chrome Web browser - though it may shift course under the administration of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, governments globally are drafting new regulations on issues that could be exacerbated by AI, such as copyright and privacy. The EU AI Act, which seeks to assess risk and require disclosures from general-purpose AI systems, has received pushback from tech giants that could find themselves in the crosshairs of multibillion-dollar fines. The DOJ has also sought to curtail Google's advances in AI as a remedy in a federal case that found its search business to be an illegal monopoly. Google executives see an opportunity to shape the narrative around a technology that has stoked emerging fears of mass job loss. CEO Sundar Pichai announced in September a $120 million investment fund to build AI education programs. Deputies including Walker and Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer, are increasingly traveling globally to discuss policy recommendations with governments. "There's a lot of upside in terms of helping people who may be displaced by this. We do want to focus on that," Walker said. Efforts include expanding Grow with Google, a combination online and in-person program that provides training tools for businesses and teaches workers skills like data analysis or IT support that are meant to expand their career prospects in technical fields. In December, the company said 1 million people had obtained a certificate for the program. It is adding specialized courses related to AI, such as one geared toward teachers, said program head Lisa Gevelber. Courses alone are not enough to prepare workers, Walker said. "What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job." Google wants to increase experimentation on public-private partnerships, he said. The leading example so far, he said, is the "Skilled Trades and Readiness" program, in which the company has partnered with community colleges to train workers for potential jobs constructing data centers. Google is incorporating AI education into the program, he said. "Ultimately, the federal government will look and see which proofs of concept are playing out - which of the green shoots are taking root," Walker said. "If we can help fertilize that effort, that's our role." In the long term, Walker said he expects a small fraction of existing jobs to be entirely displaced by AI, citing several studies commissioned by Google, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. Those studies suggest AI will be incorporated into most jobs in some capacity. As part of Google's efforts to prepare for this shift, it hired economist David Autor as a visiting fellow to study the impacts of AI on the workforce. Autor said in an interview that AI could be used to create more immersive training programs, akin to flight simulators. "The history of adult retraining is not particularly glorious," he said. "Adults don't want to go back to class. Classroom training is not going to be the solution to a lot of retraining."

Google pushes global agenda to educate workers, lawmakers on AI

SAN FRANCISCO - Alphabet's Google, already facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation. A key priority, one executive told Reuters, comes in building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI. "Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities - it's a virtuous cycle," said Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs. As Google races to best Big Tech rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Meta in the AI arena, it is mindful of the heavy regulatory scrutiny it faces in its existing businesses in advertising and search. In the European Union, Google has offered to sell a part of its ad tech business to appease regulators, Reuters reported. In the U.S., the Justice Department is attempting to force a breakup of its Chrome Web browser -- though it may shift course under the administration of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, governments globally are drafting new regulations on issues that could be exacerbated by AI, such as copyright and privacy. The EU AI Act, which seeks to assess risk and require disclosures from general-purpose AI systems, has received pushback from tech giants that could find themselves in the crosshairs of multibillion-dollar fines. The DOJ has also sought to curtail Google's advances in AI as a remedy in a federal case that found its search business to be an illegal monopoly. Google executives see an opportunity to shape the narrative around a technology that has stoked emerging fears of mass job loss. CEO Sundar Pichai announced in September a $120 million investment fund to build AI education programs. Deputies including Walker and Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer, are increasingly traveling globally to discuss policy recommendations with governments. "There's a lot of upside in terms of helping people who may be displaced by this. We do want to focus on that," Walker said. Efforts include expanding Grow with Google, a website that teaches workers skills like data analysis or IT support that are meant to expand their career prospects in technical fields. In December, the company said 1 million people had obtained a certificate for the program. It is adding specialized courses related to AI, such as one geared toward teachers, said program head Lisa Gevelber. Courses alone are not enough to prepare workers, Walker said. "What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job." Google wants to increase experimentation on public-private partnerships, he said. The leading example so far, he said, is the "Skilled Trades and Readiness" program, in which the company has partnered with community colleges to train workers for potential jobs constructing data centers. Google is incorporating AI education into the program, he said. "Ultimately, the federal government will look and see which proofs of concept are playing out - which of the green shoots are taking root," Walker said. "If we can help fertilize that effort, that's our role." In the long term, Walker said he expects a small fraction of existing jobs to be entirely displaced by AI, citing several studies commissioned by Google, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. Those studies suggest AI will be incorporated into most jobs in some capacity. As part of Google's efforts to prepare for this shift, it hired economist David Autor as a visiting fellow to study the impacts of AI on the workforce. Autor said in an interview that AI could be used to create more immersive training programs, akin to flight simulators. "The history of adult retraining is not particularly glorious," he said. "Adults don't want to go back to class. Classroom training is not going to be the solution to a lot of retraining." (Reporting by Kenrick Cai in San Francisco; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

Google Pushes AI Education to Change Global Narrative: Report

Google executives advocate globally for AI policy recommendations. Google is reportedly intensifying efforts to shape public perception and policy around artificial intelligence (AI) as governments worldwide prepare to regulate the technology. Facing regulatory scrutiny on its advertising and search businesses, the technology company aims to position itself as a leader in AI development and workforce education. "A key priority comes in building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI," Reuters reported, citing an executive. Also Read: US DOJ Proposes Measures to Curb Google's Search Monopoly "Getting more people and organisations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities - it's a virtuous cycle," said Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs, according to the report. Google's push comes as the European Union, the US Justice Department, and other regulators target Big Tech's dominance. The EU's AI Act, for instance, proposes stringent rules for AI systems, including risk assessments and disclosures, with significant penalties for violations. Meanwhile, the US DOJ seeks to limit Google's advances in AI as part of a broader antitrust case. TelecomTalk previously reported. "Google executives see an opportunity to shape the narrative around a technology that has stoked emerging fears of mass job loss," the report noted. CEO Sundar Pichai announced a USD 120 million investment fund to expand AI-focused educational initiatives, including the Grow with Google program, which has already awarded certificates to over 1 million participants. The program now includes AI-specific courses, such as training teachers to integrate AI tools in education. "Deputies including Walker and Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer, are increasingly travelling globally to discuss policy recommendations with governments," the report said. Also Read: Saudi Arabia Partners with Google Cloud to Establish a Global AI Hub "There's a lot of upside in terms of helping people who may be displaced by this. We do want to focus on that," Walker reportedly said. Efforts include expanding Grow with Google, a hybrid program offering both online and in-person training. This initiative equips businesses with essential tools and teaches workers valuable skills, such as data analysis and IT support, to help broaden their career opportunities in technical fields. However, Courses alone are not enough to prepare workers, Walker reportedly added. "What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job." Google seeks to increase experimentation on public-private partnerships, Walker said, according to the report. One notable example so far, he said, is the "Skilled Trades and Readiness" program, in which the company has partnered with community colleges to train workers for potential jobs constructing data centers. Google is incorporating AI education into the program, he reportedly added. "Ultimately, the federal government will look and see which proofs of concept are playing out - which of the green shoots are taking root," Walker was quoted as saying. "If we can help fertilise that effort, that's our role." In the long term, Walker said he anticipates that a small fraction of existing jobs to be entirely displaced by AI, citing several studies commissioned by Google, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. Those studies suggest AI will be incorporated into most jobs in some capacity. Also Read: AI Can Be a Game-Changer for Europe's Economic Growth: Report To address concerns over AI-driven job displacement, Google hired economist David Autor to explore practical retraining solutions. Autor advocates for immersive training methods, likening AI-driven tools to flight simulators for skill development, according to the report. "The history of adult retraining is not particularly glorious," he reportedly said. "Adults don't want to go back to class. Classroom training is not going to be the solution to a lot of retraining." By investing in education, public-private partnerships, and policy advocacy, Google aims to influence the global AI narrative and ensure workforce readiness for the AI-powered future.

Google Plans AI Training Push Amid Changing Global Regulations | PYMNTS.com

"Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities -- it's a virtuous cycle," Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs, told Reuters. According to the report, Google's efforts include an expansion of Grow with Google, an online and in-person program that offers training tools for businesses and teaches workers skills such as data analysis or IT support to expand their career prospects in technical fields. Last month, Google said 1 million people had gotten a certificate for the program, which will soon include AI-related coursework. However, Walker noted that courses by themselves aren't enough to prepare workers. "What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job," he said. Meanwhile, the report said Google has also hired economist David Autor as a visiting fellow to study the effects of AI on the workforce. Autor told Reuters that AI could be used to develop more immersive training programs, similar to flight simulators. "The history of adult retraining is not particularly glorious," he said. "Adults don't want to go back to class. Classroom training is not going to be the solution to a lot of retraining." The report said Google is facing regulatory pressure on two fronts: from its longtime search and advertising business, and from new efforts by governments around the world to rein in AI companies.

Google pushes global agenda to educate workers and lawmakers about AI

Alphabet's Google, already facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation. A key priority, one executive said, comes in building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI. "Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities -- it's a virtuous cycle," said Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs.