Google Champions Global AI Education and Policy Development

Amidst growing regulatory challenges, Alphabet's Google is taking proactive steps to influence public perception and policy-making around artificial intelligence (AI). The tech giant is focusing on educational initiatives to equip workers and lawmakers with the knowledge needed to navigate the AI-driven future.

Kent Walker, Alphabet's president of global affairs, emphasized the importance of widespread AI literacy. "Educating individuals, organizations, and governments about AI tools fosters better policies and unlocks new opportunities. It’s a virtuous cycle," he told Reuters.

As Google competes with rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Meta in the AI space, it remains cautious of the regulatory scrutiny it faces in its core businesses, such as advertising and search. In the European Union, Google has proposed selling part of its ad tech business to address antitrust concerns. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Justice Department has sought to limit Google's AI advancements as part of a broader antitrust case. Globally, governments are drafting regulations to address AI-related challenges, including copyright and privacy issues.

To counter fears of job displacement, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a $120 million investment in AI education programs in September. Executives like Walker and Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer, are engaging with governments worldwide to shape AI policies.

Google is expanding its Grow with Google initiative, which offers online and in-person training programs to help workers develop skills like data analysis and IT support. In December, the company reported that 1 million individuals had earned certificates through the program. Lisa Gevelber, head of the initiative, highlighted the addition of AI-focused courses, including one tailored for educators.

Walker stressed that courses alone are insufficient. "What truly matters is providing people with tangible goals, such as credentials that can help them secure jobs," he said. Google is also exploring public-private partnerships, such as its Skilled Trades and Readiness program, which collaborates with community colleges to train workers for data center construction roles, now incorporating AI education.

Looking ahead, Walker anticipates that only a small fraction of jobs will be entirely replaced by AI, citing studies from Google, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey. These studies suggest that AI will augment most roles rather than eliminate them.

To better understand AI's workforce impact, Google has enlisted economist David Autor as a visiting fellow. Autor envisions AI enabling immersive training programs, similar to flight simulators, to address the challenges of adult retraining. "Classroom training alone isn’t the solution," he noted. "Adults often resist returning to traditional learning environments."

Google’s efforts aim to prepare the global workforce for an AI-integrated future while fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.