Investing in global talent and AI literacy

Every day on Google Search, people turn to variations of the same question: “How do I get started with AI?” In our work across both the United Nations and Google, we see that question everywhere.

People around the world are eager to use these tools, but finding a clear starting point can be daunting. Global research from Ipsos and Google shows that hands-on training makes people up to four times more likely to become confident with AI. Practical training is what turns an unfamiliar technology into something genuinely useful every day, whether you’re an educator planning coursework, a municipal worker improving public services, or a job seeker building your resume.

Making those everyday wins possible for everyone was a central focus at this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that 1.2 billion people worldwide still need training to acquire basic digital skills, while another 311 million need training to develop above-basic skills. Connectivity is essential, but connectivity without the capabilities to participate in an AI-powered economy risks creating a new divide.

That is why we need to move with both scale and speed, bringing governments, technology companies, learning providers and international organizations together to make high-quality AI learning accessible to everyone, everywhere.

To turn that shared commitment into tangible action, Google is providing 100,000 scholarships through the AI Skills Coalition, a partner-led initiative under ITU’s AI for Good program that brings together governments, industry, academia, UN organizations and civil society to collectively expand access to AI skills and accelerate inclusive and responsible AI adoption.

The 100,000 scholarships will complement over 200 courses in the Coalition catalogue for participants across more than 80 countries, in support of the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative, a joint initiative by ITU and UNICEF to help governments connect every school, bringing vital online resources to communities around the world.

Every country and community faces unique opportunities, so local leaders and national ministries will have the flexibility to tailor the training to their workforce priorities. The training provides:

• Practical, everyday skills: Hands-on practice, requiring zero background in technology.
• Credentials that open doors: Recognized certificates taught by experts so learners can demonstrate their mastery to employers
• Locally led programs: Designed to support national workforce priorities, including students, teachers, job seekers, entrepreneurs, small business owners and civil servants.

Bridging the global skills gap isn’t something any single organization can achieve on its own. It takes governments, international institutions, and technology providers working hand-in-hand to ensure opportunity is shared by all.

Through the AI Skills Coalition, we will track scholarship activation and utilization, learner participation and completion, certificates earned, and the reach of priority groups, including youth, educators, public servants and job seekers. We will also work with participating countries to understand how learners apply their new skills in education, employment and public service, generating evidence on what works and helping us continuously improve in providing AI options for learners around the globe.

Our goal is straightforward: to answer that everyday question, “How do I get started with AI” with clear, high-quality pathways for everyone.

Learn more at grow.google/ai.