Google.org Announces $25M AI Funding for Students and Educators

Google.org is committing over $25 million to support educators and students in developing AI skills as part of its AI Opportunity Fund. The funding will be distributed to five education organizations across the U.S. to equip over 500,000 individuals with foundational AI skills through curriculum development, teacher training, and inclusive AI learning experiences.

AI Transforming the Classroom

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is opening up new possibilities for learning and development in education. Teachers like Matthew Jones, a special education teacher involved in AI training with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), are experiencing the benefits firsthand. “AI has transformed my experience,” Matthew explains. “I now have more time to focus on other tasks, and I’m more prepared for my students than ever before.” With AI tools, educators can streamline tasks and find appropriate resources more efficiently, allowing them to dedicate more time to student engagement and learning.

Expanding AI Education Across the U.S.

The new funding will support several key initiatives aimed at increasing access to AI education:

• The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is launching the GenerationAI initiative to help teachers gain the skills and confidence needed to effectively use AI in their classrooms. This initiative will provide educators with specialized training and resources to ensure they can safely incorporate AI technology into their teaching. In collaboration with partners such as the National Education Association (NEA), Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), Center for Black Educator Development (CBED), Latinos for Education (L4E), Indigitize, and Playlab, ISTE will offer professional development programs designed by educators, for educators. These efforts will support teachers nationwide, providing them with the tools and knowledge to utilize AI in ways that enhance learning and engage students.

• 4-H will expand AI education to rural areas across the U.S., focusing on states like Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Pennsylvania. This initiative will offer localized AI programming to students and educators, helping bridge the AI knowledge gap in rural communities.

• aiEDU aims to close AI literacy gaps for underserved students, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities, by delivering high-quality AI curriculum and building capacity for AI education.

• CodePath will develop and provide AI coursework tailored to underserved college computing students, enhancing their readiness for AI-driven careers.

• STEM From Dance will empower girls of color by integrating foundational AI content into dance choreography through sound, animation, and technology, helping to close gender gaps in STEM education.

Leveraging Google AI Resources

In addition to the funding, Google.org will collaborate with ISTE and 4-H to incorporate Google AI learning resources into their training programs. This includes offering the “Generative AI for Educators” course, a self-paced, two-hour program designed to help teachers save time and enhance student learning using generative AI tools. This course is part of a broader set of resources available from Google to support AI skill development across various sectors.

Building on the AI Opportunity Fund

The new initiatives build on the impact of Google.org’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which aims to help over one million Americans acquire essential AI skills through partnerships with leading workforce development and education organizations. With this additional $25 million in funding, Google.org is strengthening its commitment to preparing the next generation of educators and professionals to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Through these efforts, Google.org is not only supporting the integration of AI in classrooms but also ensuring that educators and students have the skills needed to navigate and succeed in the evolving technological landscape.