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 the skills to use them effectively. We have already trained millions of Americans on digital skills to help them succeed at work, in the classroom, and in growing their businesses. Now, as AI becomes a critical driver of economic growth, we are committed to ensuring everyone can benefit. 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 are taking the next step to help professionals go from foundations 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-trained workforce is critical for success, only 14% of workers have been offered AI training.
To help bridge the AI skills gap, employers including Walmart and Sam’s Club, Deloitte, Verizon and Colgate-Palmolive will be using this certificate to train their employees on AI.
This gap is particularly challenging for small businesses, which employ half of Americans and are the heartbeat of our communities. To ensure they can seize this opportunity, Google is offering no-cost access to the new AI Professional Certificate and three months of Google Workspace Business Standard
to every small business. We are working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to reach small businesses nationwide. 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 that employers value most. We collaborated 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 organization, and vibe coding. And since the best way to learn AI is by practicing using the tools, every participant receives three months of no-cost access to Google AI Pro.
This allows people to practice with our most capable models as they master over 20 practical use cases, including:
- Producing professional-grade images, videos, presentations and marketing materials
- Conducting deep research to uncover key insights
- Building infographics
- Turning goals into comprehensive project plans and timelines
- Drafting communications for multiple audiences
- Cleaning, 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 practical, job-focused training, we hope to help unlock the economic promise of AI for everyone. Learn more and enroll at grow.google/aiCert.
