The announcement came during the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The event featured high-profile attendees including Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Google and Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat, and former President Donald Trump.

According to Google, AI Works for America is designed to build an “AI-empowered U.S. workforce,” with training courses available online through the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The curriculum includes Google Career Certificates and specialized AI courses accessible on demand.

Senator McCormick revealed plans for a $70 billion investment in AI and energy in Pennsylvania, which is expected to create thousands of new jobs. He emphasized the state’s “incredible potential to power the AI revolution,” while Porat said, “Google’s investments... will increase energy abundance and empower Americans with the skills needed to thrive in the AI era.”

The move comes amid ongoing debates over the impact of AI on the workforce. While many AI leaders argue that the technology will rejuvenate the job market rather than destroy it, there has been limited concrete action addressing the retraining of workers at risk of displacement.

Google has provided various skills training programs for years. However, as the company acknowledged, the context has changed. “Those programs were built for a time when tech jobs were plentiful, before generative AI became a looming threat, real or perceived,” experts note.

Despite increased efforts to ramp up AI education, questions remain about how effectively these programs will address the rapid pace of job automation and what new roles will emerge. Many workers have already experienced job losses, and the timeline and nature of replacement positions are still unclear.

This initiative marks an important step by a major tech company to help workers adapt, but it highlights the ongoing challenge of preparing the workforce for a future shaped by AI innovation.