Free AI Training Initiative
Verizon Commits $70 Million to Provide Free Artificial Intelligence Training Nationwide
Anonymous
Key Points
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Verizon CEO Dan Schulman called on other companies to contribute, saying that if every Fortune 100 company invested $50 million to $70 million, it could create a multibillion-dollar AI-skills fund.
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The existing $20 million reskilling fund was established in connection with Verizon’s plans to cut 13,000 jobs, providing departing employees with support to build AI capabilities.
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The initiative will make premium AI training—resources that can cost more than $700 per person annually—available to learners for free.
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In addition to Goodwill Industries, the community partners named for localized coaching include the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
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Goodwill CEO Steven Preston said many workers view AI education as a “black hole” because they are unsure how to begin, while employers are increasingly seeking candidates who can apply AI to specific job skills.
Verizon is committing $70 million to free AI training for job seekers, displaced workers, small businesses, and educators across the US. Economic Times reports the initiative combines $50 million in new funding with a previously established $20 million reskilling fund tied to Verizon's planned cuts of 13,000 jobs. A centralized online portal will connect learners with training courses from IBM, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, Coursera, and OpenAI—resources that typically cost more than $700 per person per year.
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman urged other Fortune 100 companies to match the investment, saying if all 100 did so with $50-$70 million each, the US could build a multibillion-dollar AI-skills fund. BizTech Weekly reports the initiative, called Verizon AI Skills for America, will rely on community partners like Goodwill Industries, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship to deliver localized coaching and support.
Why Verizon Tied Training to 13,000 Job Cuts
The $20 million reskilling fund was created in connection with Verizon's plan to lay off 13,000 workers. The Fast Mode notes the company is using the broader $70 million initiative as a way to help departing employees build AI skills and find new roles. Schulman framed the effort as both a responsibility to workers and an economic necessity—companies need a talent pipeline ready for AI jobs.
Workers See AI Training as Confusing and Out of Reach
Many people don't know where to start with AI education, creating what Goodwill CEO Steven Preston called a "black hole" of confusion. BizTech Weekly reports employers increasingly demand candidates who can apply AI to real job tasks. Yet premium training courses remain expensive, locking out workers who need the skills most. Verizon's free portal removes that financial barrier and pairs it with local coaching to help people navigate their options.
Community Groups Will Provide Local Guidance
Goodwill Industries, LISC, and NACCE will offer in-person and virtual coaching to learners using the free platform. Economic Times explains these partners bring deep roots in local communities and know which workers need support most. They'll help job seekers and small-business owners navigate AI courses and connect training to real employment opportunities. Verizon also donated $1 million to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City to champion public access to AI technology education.
Schulman Calls on Business Leaders to Invest in AI Readiness
Verizon's CEO is pushing other companies to see AI training as a national priority, not just a corporate expense. The Fast Mode reports Schulman said if Fortune 100 companies each invested $50-$70 million, the combined effort could reach millions of workers and small businesses. He framed AI skills as essential to keeping the US economy competitive and ensuring workers aren't left behind by automation and technological change.
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