Google commits $4 million to expand free AI training for educators

Google.org has committed $4 million to education nonprofit Digital Promise to expand access to free artificial intelligence (AI) training for teachers and higher education faculty, as technology companies increase efforts to prepare educators for AI-driven changes in learning.

The announcement, made on September 21, 2026, in connection with the United Nations General Assembly in New York, will support the expansion of the Google AI Educator Series, a programme designed to equip educators with practical AI skills for teaching and professional tasks.

According to Google, the funding will help Digital Promise develop scalable models and frameworks for delivering hands-on AI professional development to educators across schools and higher education institutions.

Training to focus on practical classroom applications

The initiative builds on Google’s earlier commitment to provide free AI training to six million K-12 teachers and higher education faculty in the United States.

Developed in partnership with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the training uses a “teachers teaching teachers” approach and focuses on foundational AI skills, instructional judgment and practical applications such as lesson planning and productivity.

Educators can complete self-paced online modules and earn digital badges recognising their learning and professional development.

Three areas of focus

The new funding will support three major areas of work:

• Teacher training at scale: Digital Promise will work with state education agencies and school districts to provide tailored training and build educator networks that support continued AI learning.
• Support for community college faculty: The organisation will partner with community college systems to help instructors integrate AI into teaching and daily work.
• Research and practical guidance: Over the next two years, Digital Promise will study how college faculty use AI effectively and publish a free public guide to help higher education institutions adopt the technology thoughtfully.

Implications for education

The announcement comes amid growing attention to how AI can support teaching, learning and institutional productivity, while keeping educators central to the learning process.

For education systems, expanding access to practical AI training raises questions about how teachers can develop the skills to use these tools responsibly and effectively, particularly in settings where professional development opportunities and digital infrastructure vary.

Although the initiative is focused on educators in the United States, its research and planned public guidance could provide resources for institutions in other countries exploring how to integrate AI into education.

Google said educators, school leaders and faculty can access the free training and begin earning digital badges through the Google for Education Learning Center.