Google.org is providing $10 million to the Manufacturing Institute (MI) to prepare current and future U.S. manufacturing employees for increased automation and digitisation, the company said in an announcement.
The funding will support development of two courses tailored to the shopfloor: AI 101 for Manufacturing, adapted from Google’s existing AI training, and a new AI for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians course created by the MI. The grant will also fund Google’s new AI Professional Certificate for manufacturing workers at no cost.
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Google said the investment will equip workers with "critical AI skills" and broaden apprenticeship pathways by helping the MI launch new Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME USA) chapters in at least 15 new regions. FAME USA already operates in 46 hubs nationwide and trains advanced maintenance technicians to build durable talent pipelines for manufacturers.
The package includes support for the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to offer Work Ethic Scholarships to eligible FAME students completing their manufacturing programs. Google.org described the move as part of its AI Opportunity Fund, which funds workforce and education organisations to deliver AI training across the United States.
The recap
- Google.org commits $10 million to Manufacturing Institute training programs
- Equip 40,000 current and future manufacturing employees with AI skills
- Launch FAME USA chapters in at least 15 new regions
