Google.org announces new AI funding for students and educators
New advancements in artificial intelligence present exciting possibilities for learning and development in the classroom. Matthew Jones, a special education teacher who has been participating in AI training with the International Society for Technology in Education, is seeing this firsthand. He teaches four subjects across three different grade levels, and while finding appropriate resources for his students was once a challenge, AI is helping him to complete that task in a fraction of the time. “AI has transformed my experience,” Matthew says. “I now have more time to focus on other tasks, and I’m more prepared for my students than ever before.”
At Google, we’re excited about the opportunities that AI will unlock. We’re also committed to helping educators and students get equitable access to the skills and resources necessary to thrive in the economy of today and tomorrow. Many educators share Matthew’s interest in using AI in the classroom. More than 30% of educators are already using or have experimented with AI tools in their work, and with 72% of students seeking guidance on how to use generative AI responsibly, a majority of educators anticipate adopting AI tools in the future.
Today, Google.org is announcing $25M+ in funding to five education organizations to equip over 500,000 educators and students across the U.S. with foundational AI skills through the development of AI curriculums, teacher training and meaningful, inclusive AI learning experiences:
- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will launch GenerationAI, an initiative to provide educators with the knowledge, tools and confidence to safely and responsibly capture the power of AI in the classroom. Through collaboration with the National Education Association (NEA), Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), Center for Black Educator Development (CBED), Latinos for Education (L4E), Indigitize and Playlab, ISTE’s GenerationAI programming will reach educators across the country through high-quality professional learning on AI, specifically created by and for educators.
- 4-H will increase access to AI knowledge and skills for rural students and educators across the country, including targeted local programming in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Pennsylvania.
- aiEDU will close AI literacy gaps for underserved students through delivery of high-quality AI curriculum and capacity-building in rural and Indigenous communities.
- CodePath will create and deliver industry-vetted AI coursework to underserved college computing students.
- STEM From Dance will close gender gaps in STEM by developing and delivering foundational AI content to girls of color, allowing them to enhance dance choreography through sound, animation and technology.
In addition to Google.org funding, ISTE and 4-H will incorporate Google AI learning resources into their training. The organizations will offer Generative AI for Educators, a two-hour, self-paced course designed to help educators save time and enhance student learning with generative AI tools. This course is one of many resources available from Google to help people learn AI skills across all sectors, including the Google AI Essentials course and the addition of AI training within the Google Career Certificates program.
Today’s announcement builds on the impact of Google.org's $75M AI Opportunity Fund, which will help over one million Americans learn essential AI skills by providing funding to best-in-class workforce development and education organizations across the country. Through these new initiatives, Google.org aims to equip the next generation of professionals and educators with essential AI skills for the classroom and beyond.
