Google.org, the philanthropic arm of tech giant Google, has announced a $25 million funding initiative aimed at equipping over 500,000 educators and students across the United States with foundational AI skills.
This new funding is part of Google.org's broader $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which seeks to help over one million Americans develop essential AI skills. The initiative comes at a time when over 30% of educators are already experimenting with AI tools in their work.
The funding will be distributed among five education organisations, each focusing on different aspects of AI education. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will launch GenerationAI, providing educators with knowledge and tools to safely integrate AI in classrooms. Meanwhile, 4-H will focus on increasing AI knowledge and skills for rural students and educators across ten states.
To address AI literacy gaps, aiEDU will work with underserved students in rural and Indigenous communities. For higher education, CodePath will develop and deliver industry-vetted AI coursework to underserved college computing students. Aiming to close gender gaps in STEM, STEM From Dance will integrate AI content with dance choreography for girls of color.
In addition to the funding, Google is offering AI learning resources, including a two-hour, self-paced course called "Generative AI for Educators." This course is designed to help educators effectively use generative AI tools to save time and enhance student learning.
The initiative addresses a growing need in education, as 72% of students are seeking guidance on how to use generative AI responsibly.