Google pledges $25 million to boost AI education for over 500,000 U.S. students and educators

Google has committed over $25 million to support AI education for students and teachers across the United States. 

The announcement, shared by Maggie Johnson, VP and Head of Google.org in a blog, outlined plans to reach more than 500,000 educators and students. This initiative, part of Google’s AI Opportunity Fund, will prioritise rural and underserved communities.

“At Google, we’re excited about the opportunities that AI will unlock. We’re also committed to helping educators and students get equitable access to the skills and resources necessary to thrive in the economy of today and tomorrow,” Johnson said.

Equitable access to AI learning

The initiative will partner with five organisations—International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 4-H, aiEDU, CodePath, and STEM From Dance. These partnerships will focus on creating AI curriculums, teacher training, and providing equitable AI learning experiences. 

ISTE will launch GenerationAI to provide professional AI training for educators, with input from various education associations.

4-H will deliver AI knowledge to rural areas through local programming in states such as Iowa and Nebraska.

aiEDU will target underserved students with AI curriculum in rural and Indigenous communities.

CodePath will focus on AI coursework for underserved college students in computing fields.

STEM From Dance will empower girls of color to integrate AI into dance choreography using technology and animation.

The funding aims to reduce barriers to AI education by focusing on underserved communities, providing them with tools to engage in AI learning and better understand its potential applications. 

The goal is to ensure teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to guide students through AI concepts, developing a deeper understanding of technology’s role in the world today.