At Google, we believe that access to technology expands people’s opportunities. Realizing this promise requires more than just access to tools; people also need skills to use them effectively. We’ve already trained millions of Americans in digital skills to help them succeed at work, in the classroom and to grow their businesses. Now, as artificial intelligence becomes a critical driver of economic growth, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can benefit from it. Our foundational course, Google AI Essentials, has become the most popular course on Coursera of all time, helping people everywhere get started with this technology.
Today, we’re taking the next step to help professionals move from foundation to fluency with the launch of the Google AI Professional Certificate. We developed this program to address a critical need: New research from Ipsos and Google reveals that while 70% of managers believe an AI-educated workforce is critical to success, only 14% of employees have been offered AI training. To help bridge the AI ​​gap, employers including Walmart and Sam’s Club, Deloitte, Verizon and Colgate-Palmolive will use this certificate to train their employees in AI.
This gap is especially challenging for small businesses, which employ half of Americans and are the heartbeat of our communities. To make sure they can seize this opportunity, Google is offering free access to the new AI Professional certificate and three months of Google Workspace Business Standard to every small business. We partner with the US Chamber of Commerce and America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to reach small businesses across the country. We’re excited that ADP, PayPal and Verizon will share these resources with millions of small businesses across their networks. Businesses can apply at grow.google/small-business.
Created by Google experts and used by some of America’s largest employers, this new program focuses on the specific skills employers value most. We partnered with the Burning Glass Institute and the Skills-First Workforce Initiative to identify the most critical areas for using AI, including communication, research, data analysis, content generation, planning and organizing, and vibe coding. And since the best way to learn AI is to practice using the tools, each participant gets three months of free access to Google AI Pro. This allows people to practice with our most skilled models as they master over 20 practical use cases, including:
- Production of professional quality images, videos, presentations and marketing materials
- Conducting deep research to uncover key insights
- Construction of infographics
- Transforming goals into comprehensive project plans and timelines
- Preparation of communication for several target groups
- Cleansing, analyzing and visualizing data to make smarter decisions
- Vibe coding custom apps without writing a single line of code
This new credential is the latest addition to our Google Career Certificates program, which now includes AI training in every certificate. The program has already reached over one million graduates globally, with over 70% reporting a positive career outcome within six months. By providing hands-on, job-focused training, we hope to help unlock the economic promise of AI for all. Learn more and sign up at grow.google/aiCert.