Google announced this week that it is adding more resources and AI training courses to its Google Certificates Program. The company also said it plans to make its learning materials available in 18 additional languages, giving millions more the chance to upskill themselves.
The tech giant is investing heavily in expanding AI educational opportunities in Europe too to equip “workers with the skills they need to avoid being left behind.”
The news will be welcomed by anyone keen to participate in a widely recognized AI course but doesn’t have the budget to invest in a paid one at this moment in time.
Google Expands AI Training Courses For Everyone
Google announced today that it is investing €25 million (roughly $27.9 million) in the AI Opportunity Initiative for Europe.
Excitingly, this includes plans to add new resources available on its existing Google Career Certificates program, in order “to help learners discover how professionals in their fields are using AI, while gaining hands-on experience applying AI to workplace scenarios.”
The company’s AI foundational courses and online webinars, on the other hand, are now available in 18 additional languages, so even more workers can get themselves ready for an AI-powered economy, where being skilled enough to use the tech productively will matter much more.
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Google’s Multi-Million Dollar AI Fund for Businesses
Along with expanding its training materials, Google announced that it has launched the “AI Opportunity Fund: Europe”, in cooperation with the Centre for Public Impact. This is where it seems the vast majority of the €25 million will be spent.
The tech giant says it’s looking for “social enterprises and nonprofits” to apply for some of the money if they feel like their staff would benefit from being upskilled in AI-related areas.
“Selected organizations will receive bespoke and facilitated training on foundational AI in local languages delivered directly to the workers in their communities… as well as cash grants for critical wraparound support, such as childcare or compensation for pay, to remove the barrier to learning” Google explains.
Are Google AI courses Free?
A lot of the AI foundational courses mentioned above can be found in Google’s library of online courses are free to take. They’re pretty comprehensive considering you’re not paying anything, and there are also lots of additional resources and teaching materials you can access for free too.
However, Most Google Career Certificate learners will have to pay a Coursera monthly fee for taking one Google certificate course, typically around $49. However, This may vary depending on how quickly you complete the course.
Google also offers “funded scholarships” for certificates across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. You can access AI training courses free of charge from Google if you’re able to obtain one of these scholarships.
Remember, there are other free AI training courses you can take online, which offer different ways to learn and bespoke skills that can help carve out your niche, such a coding, advertising, and prompt engineering.
