Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin revealed that his administration will collaborate with Google to offer free and affordable artificial intelligence certification courses to residents of Virginia as part of an ongoing initiative to assist citizens in finding new employment opportunities amid economic shifts in the state.
This partnership, which Youngkin has referred to as a platform for launching AI careers, will facilitate Google-supported training courses for up to 10,000 Virginians simultaneously, according to reports.
The training programs will be showcased on a job portal that Youngkin introduced earlier this year, which was established in response to significant layoffs among federal employees by the Trump administration, affecting a large number of Virginia workers.
Youngkin stated, “All fields, all career movements are going to integrate this next generation of technology at some point.”
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This initiative comes at a time when unemployment is on the rise in Virginia, with approximately 20,400 ongoing unemployment claims reported, as noted by state Secretary of Labor George Bryan Slater during the news conference.
About 2,800 individuals filed for unemployment in the first week of July, marking a rise of 6.1 percent compared to the week prior.
The AI section of the website will provide details on free courses as well as some low-cost educational options, including "beginner-friendly courses on AI basics and practical applications of AI in the workplace, as well as bootcamps and degree programs available through Virginia's top community colleges and universities," as stated by the governor's office.
Nicole Overley, commissioner of Virginia Works, mentioned that various businesses have indicated to her office that proficiency in AI has become increasingly important in their sectors. She emphasized that this training would enable Virginians to stay competitive in job markets where these companies are actively hiring.
Overley confirmed that the courses will not incur any costs for taxpayers, as they are being provided at no charge by Google. Bronagh Friel, head of partnerships at Google, expressed pride in the collaboration with the state.
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Olivia Diaz serves as a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program focused on placing journalists in local newsrooms to cover underrepresented issues.