Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 23, 2026
Verizon Invests $70M in Free AI Skills Training for America
TLDR
- Verizon invests $70 million in free AI training, giving learners a cost advantage over $700 annual programs.
- Verizon combines $20 million existing and $50 million new funds into a portal with courses from IBM, Google, and Microsoft.
- Verizon's initiative offers free AI skills to job seekers and small businesses, helping communities thrive in the AI era.
- Verizon partners with Goodwill and others to provide free AI training, turning online courses into real-world skills.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses the urgent need to close the AI readiness gap as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries and eliminates routine jobs. By providing free access to premium AI training from top tech companies, Verizon is democratizing skills that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per person, leveling the playing field for workers from all backgrounds. The partnership with trusted community organizations ensures that learners receive not just content but also the coaching and support needed to translate knowledge into real-world opportunities. As AI continues to disrupt the workforce, such investments are critical to preventing a widening skills divide, fostering economic resilience, and ensuring that the benefits of AI are broadly shared. Ultimately, this program could serve as a model for how corporations can proactively equip people for the future of work, benefiting individuals, communities, and the national economy.
Summary
Verizon has announced a $70 million investment in Verizon AI Skills for America, a new initiative aimed at equipping job seekers, early career professionals, displaced workers, educators, and small businesses with essential AI skills. The program combines Verizon’s existing $20 million Reskilling and Career Transition Fund with $50 million in new funding to offer free, best-in-class AI training. Verizon CEO Dan Schulman emphasized that AI is not just a technological shift but a workforce transformation, and companies must invest in people with the same urgency as technology. The initiative curates a one-stop portal featuring training content from leading AI experts such as IBM, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, Coursera, and OpenAI—normally costing over $700 per person annually—at no cost to learners.
Beyond access to premium content, Verizon is partnering with mission-based organizations like Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), and Goodwill Industries International to provide hands-on coaching and local support. As Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer at Verizon, noted, economic opportunity in the AI era requires collaboration. Steven C. Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries International, added that real workforce transformation happens at the community level. The program launches nationwide with wraparound services in select markets, and Verizon will gather feedback to continuously improve the offering. To learn more or register, visit verizon.com/aiskillsforamerica. This announcement was originally published by Verizon; Read the original press release.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by Noticias Newswire. Read the original source here, Verizon Invests $70M in Free AI Skills Training for America
