Last updated: 20 Feb 2024 12:00 Posted in:
Google has pledged around €25 million (£21.5 million) to help Europeans learn how to use AI and exploit the benefits of it for their businesses.
The tech giant said the monies from its the ‘AI Opportunity Initiative for Europe’ would be made available through social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations.
Google also plans to run a series of ‘growth academies’ across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to help support companies looking to scale their companies through AI. To help with this it has expanded its free online AI training courses to 18 languages.
Adrian Brown, from the Centre for Public Impact, who is working with Google, said: “Research shows that the benefits of AI could exacerbate existing inequalities – especially in terms of economic security and employment.” He felt the new initiative will help develop skills ensuring “no one is left behind”.
In order for AI to benefit everyone, it “must be built by – and accessible to – everyone,” said Matt Brittin, president of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, in a blog post announcing the initiative.
Brittin said Google shared in the responsibility to help use AI to build “better, fairer, healthier society” and “a strong and equitable economy,” with schemes like this one showing the tech giant is “committed to playing our part” in fostering the responsible development of AI.
Last month, Google announced it would invest $1 billion into building a data centre just outside London, as it moves to meet growing demand for internet services in the region.
The data centre will be located on a 33-acre (13-hectare) Waltham Cross site bought by Google in 2020.
“Research shows that the benefits of AI could exacerbate existing inequalities – especially in terms of economic security and employment.”
Adrian Brown, Centre for Public Impact