Tech giants IBM, Google, and others want to train millions on AI

Google, IBM, and others are throwing big bucks into getting America up to speed on AI. These companies are pumping millions into AI education initiatives, targeting everyone from federal workers to students.

Last week, Google announced $15 million in grants to boost AI training for public sector workers. This funding, split between two nonprofits, the Partnership for Public Service and InnovateUS, is part of Google.org’s larger $75 million AI Opportunity Fund.

The Partnership for Public Service snagged $10 million from Google to open the Center for Federal AI in spring 2025. This center will run a federal AI leadership program that deals with AI literacy, prepping government workers to figure out where AI fits in and how to use it effectively.

On top of that, the center plans an internship program so students can get hands-on AI experience in government, learning how to implement it responsibly.

InnovateUS, a nonprofit offering free AI training, took the other $5 million. This funding will help them expand from 50,000 public sector workers trained in 15 states to 100,000 in over 30 states. 

Google has more plans too, promising another $25 million to nonprofits dedicated to teaching U.S. educators and students about AI tools and generative tech.

IBM’s global AI push

IBM announced in September it will join forces with universities to provide courses focused on generative AI and AI career readiness. IBM’s goal? Train 2 million people worldwide on AI by the end of 2026.

IBM’s commitment includes expanding its SkillsBuild program, which offers free courses across various tech topics. Unlike Google, which focuses on American workers, IBM’s reach is global.

Adobe joined the game, too. Last week, it launched a program targeting 30 million people by 2030, teaching AI, digital marketing, and content creation skills.

Through the Adobe Digital Academy, it’s working with Coursera, colleges, and schools to train students and teachers on Adobe’s generative AI tools and ethical AI use.

IBM, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and Accenture are all part of Cisco’s AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, formed to address the potential impact of AI on future tech jobs. Francine Katsoudas, Cisco’s chief of people, policy, and purpose, said in July that:

“AI represents a never-before-seen opportunity for technology to benefit humankind in every way, and we have to act intentionally to make sure populations don’t get left behind.”

AI skills gap blocks more adoption

These tech companies are pushing AI education because they know the skills gap is real. Over 60% of CEOs say a lack of AI knowledge prevents them from using AI across their organizations, based on a survey by IBM and Oracle covering 2,500 CEOs from 30 countries.

Nearly 80% of business leaders think AI is essential for competitiveness, yet 60% admit their companies lack a solid AI strategy.

According to Microsoft and LinkedIn’s 2024 Work Trend Index, most business leaders won’t even consider hiring someone without AI skills. In fact, 71% would prefer a less experienced candidate with AI knowledge over a seasoned pro who doesn’t have it.

AI agents step in

Startups are cashing in, too. Anthropic, an AI startup backed by Amazon and founded by ex-OpenAI execs, announced it hit a new milestone. Their AI agents can now use computers to perform complex tasks like humans.

Known for its chatbot Claude, Anthropic has released models capable of executing multi-step actions on computers, like accessing websites and entering text. Jared Kaplan, Anthropic’s chief science officer, says their technology can complete tasks with “tens or even hundreds of steps.”

Early access to this new AI tool went to companies like Asana, Canva, and Notion. Anthropic launched it for developers on Tuesday, with plans to launch it for consumers and enterprise clients early next year. The company envisions future applications for scheduling, booking, and online form-filling.

Kaplan said, “We want Claude to be able to actually assist people with all sorts of different kinds of work, and we think the chatbot setup is fairly limited because you can ask a question and [get] context but it stops there.”

There has also been a dramatic increase in interest from investors in AI agent startups. These startups have collectively raised hundreds of millions, riding the generative AI trend.

Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has ambitions for an AI agent that can handle more of a user’s workload, though he admits there’s “a lot of execution ahead.” Executives at Meta and Google are also racing to make AI agents smarter and more capable.