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Google invests $1B in AI training for US college students
Google has announced a significant $1 billion investment to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education and training for U.S. college students over the next three years. This bold initiative reflects the tech giant's commitment to scaling access to advanced AI learning tools and supporting the development of future educational models.
Transforming AI education in the U.S.
Central to this investment is the new Google AI for Education Accelerator program, which will offer free AI training and Google Career Certificates to students at over 100 universities and community colleges across the United States. Eligible students, who must be at least 18 years old, will also gain access to a free 12-month subscription to Google AI Pro. This subscription includes cutting-edge tools such as NotebookLM for note-taking, Deep Research for customized reports, and Veo 3 for video generation.
"Guided Learning encourages participation through probing and open-ended questions that spark a discussion and provide an opportunity to dive deeper into a subject", said Maureen Heymans, Google's Vice President of Learning. She added that the feature is designed to act as a "personal AI learning companion", helping students build a deeper understanding of subjects rather than merely providing answers.
Heymans also highlighted that Guided Learning adapts to individual needs by breaking down problems step-by-step and tailoring explanations to users' understanding.
New tools for students and educators
This latest announcement builds on Google's earlier efforts to integrate AI into education. In June, the company introduced Gemini for Education, a specialized version of its Gemini app tailored to meet the unique needs of students and educators. Powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, the tool aims to save time, foster personalized learning, and inspire confidence for teaching and learning, all within a secure and privacy-focused environment.
According to Google, user data within Gemini for Education is not human-reviewed and is not used to train AI models. The tool also includes strong privacy protections, which are managed by school administrators.
Additionally, Google has made Gemini AI tools available in Google Classroom for schools using Google Workspace for Education at no cost. These tools feature innovations such as automatically generating vocabulary lists with definitions and example sentences to assist teachers in streamlining their workloads.
Addressing the AI skills gap
Google’s efforts come at a time when the demand for AI skills in education is rapidly growing. The company noted that over 80% of surveyed educators reported using AI tools this year, a 21-point increase compared to last year. However, challenges remain, with one in three K-12 educators expressing a lack of confidence in using AI effectively and responsibly. Additionally, more than half of surveyed students reported not receiving any formal AI training.
"Guided Learning represents an important step in our path to helping everyone in the world learn anything in the world", Heymans explained. She emphasized that the initiative is rooted in a sense of shared responsibility to ensure that AI benefits all learners.
Competitive landscape in AI education
Google is not the only tech giant focusing on AI-driven education. Microsoft recently introduced new AI features for educators under its Microsoft 365 Copilot program, including Copilot Chat for teenage students. Meanwhile, Amazon has achieved global milestones with its "AI Ready" initiative, which provided free AI training to two million people by 2024. The company has emphasized that AI skills have the potential to boost productivity by 39% and increase salaries by up to 30%.
As AI continues to reshape industries, tech companies are recognizing the importance of equipping students, educators, and institutions with relevant skills for an AI-powered future. Google's $1 billion investment marks a significant leap in this direction, with the promise of transforming access to AI education across the United States.