Google launches $1 billion education program to bring AI training and tools to U.S. colleges

Google is making its biggest move yet to stake a claim in higher education’s AI future. The company announced a three-year, $1 billion commitment on Wednesday to provide AI training and tools to U.S. colleges and nonprofits, a sweeping effort that already has more than 100 universities on board, including major public systems like Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina.

The program offers more than just cash. Participating schools will get access to cloud computing credits for AI-related coursework and research, as well as paid AI tools such as an advanced version of Google’s Gemini chatbot — free for students. The idea is to give students hands-on experience with the same AI systems shaping the job market they’ll graduate into.

From Classrooms to the Cloud: Google Partners With 100+ Universities in $1B AI Education Drive

Senior Vice President James Manyika said Google aims to extend the offer to every accredited nonprofit college in the country, and the company is already exploring similar partnerships abroad, Reuters reported. However, he didn’t break down how much of the $1 billion is going directly to institutions versus covering Google’s own infrastructure and subscription costs, but he said the initiative is meant to be broad enough to reach schools of all sizes.

The announcement comes at a time when other tech heavyweights are making similar moves. Microsoft committed $4 billion in July to boost AI in education worldwide, while OpenAI, Anthropic, and Amazon are building their own footholds in classrooms. The pitch is obvious: get students comfortable with their products now, and those same students could become enterprise customers later.

There’s still tension around how AI fits into the classroom. Studies have flagged risks like enabling cheating or discouraging critical thinking, leading some schools to consider bans. Manyika said Google hasn’t faced pushback from administrators so far, but he acknowledged there are “many more questions” to address about how AI is used in education.

“We’re hoping to learn together with these institutions about how best to use these tools,” he said, adding that the feedback could influence future product decisions.