Virginia, Google partner to launch AI training courses

With artificial intelligence worming its way into almost every job sector, employees are increasingly finding themselves needing to know how to use the emerging technology to avoid being left behind.

To address this, Virginia is launching an online platform that will provide job seekers free and low-cost artificial intelligence certification courses.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday, while speaking at Google‘s Reston office, announced the launch of VirginiaHasJobs.com/AI, which he described as an “AI career launch pad.”

Developed by Virginia Works in partnership with the Grow with Google program, the website is designed to help working-age Virginians gain experience in using AI and prepare for its growing role across industries. According to Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater, Virginia has experienced a surge in AI-related job postings, with approximately 31,000 listings.

The new website includes free and low-cost courses and learning opportunities. These range from beginner courses on AI fundamentals and practical workplace applications of AI to certification training, bootcamps and degree programs offered by Virginia community colleges and universities.

According to a news release from the governor’s office, Virginia Works will provide career certificate scholarships, giving Virginians free access to high-demand career and AI training. The governor’s office says that any Virginian can visit the website, sign up for a scholarship, enroll in eligible programs and develop AI knowledge and skills.

During the press conference in Reston, Youngkin said, “Artificial intelligence is being incorporated in just about every single job in America.” For example, he said that in the manufacturing industry, AI drives much of the processes, but technicians are still needed to optimize it and improve it. In marketing jobs, he said AI capabilities help customize messaging.

“So what we’re seeing is that AI is becoming a critical component of a broad set of employer needs and employee capabilities,” Youngkin said. “And therefore it doesn’t matter whether you have a college degree or not, it doesn’t matter whether you had deep experience or not, because artificial intelligence skill sets are at the cutting edge.”

Youngkin’s office says Virginians can apply for scholarships to two types of programs — Google AI essentials courses that teach foundational AI skills and best practices and Google career certificates, which offer in-depth, job-ready training in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics and project management.

“The site was developed with people in mind that are looking, that are searching,” Youngkin said. “And so they can come find the job opportunities that they think are interesting. They can find the course sequence that gets them there. And guess what? They can find jobs.”

Grow with Google Head of Partnerships Bronagh Friel said in a statement that the website “will help equip more Virginians with the in-demand skills to secure great jobs, advance their earning potential and drive a prosperous future for the state.”

The governor’s office says that globally, 86% of graduates say the AI skills taught in the AI Essentials course will improve their productivity and efficiency at work. Additionally, 70% of Google’s career certificate graduates report experiencing a positive on their careers — such as a raise, new job or promotion — within six months of completion.