Verizon is investing $70 million in a nationwide initiative designed to help more people across the United States learn practical artificial intelligence skills.
The program is aimed at job seekers, small business owners and educators who want to understand how AI can be used in everyday work. Verizon plans to make AI education more accessible as artificial intelligence continues to change how businesses operate and how people prepare for new careers.
The company expects the initiative to provide AI training opportunities to hundreds of thousands of people. The learning resources will cover different experience levels, allowing beginners to understand the basics while helping more experienced users develop practical AI skills.
Verizon is working with nonprofit organizations, including Goodwill Industries, to expand access to the training. Educational resources from major technology companies such as Google, IBM, Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI will also be included in the wider training effort.
The courses are expected to focus on practical uses of AI rather than only technical theory. Learners will be able to explore how AI tools can support daily work, improve productivity and help them prepare for jobs where AI skills are becoming increasingly important.
Small business owners are another major focus of the program. AI tools can now help businesses with tasks such as customer support, content creation, research, planning and daily operations. Training could help smaller companies understand where these tools are useful and how to use them responsibly.
Teachers and K-12 educators will also have access to resources designed to help them better understand AI and its role in education. This includes learning how AI tools work, how they can be used thoughtfully in classrooms and what privacy or safety concerns should be considered.
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman has emphasized that AI is expected to significantly reshape the workforce. The company believes businesses need to play a role in helping workers gain the skills required for an economy where AI is becoming more common.
The $70 million commitment includes an earlier $20 million fund created to provide training and career-transition support for employees leaving Verizon. The latest initiative adds another $50 million and expands the focus to a much wider group of people across the country.
Verizon is also encouraging other large companies to invest in workforce training as AI adoption grows. Wider participation from major businesses could create significantly more funding for programs that help workers learn new technology skills.
The investment reflects a broader shift in the technology industry. Companies are not only developing and adopting AI systems but are also paying more attention to preparing people to work alongside them.
As AI becomes part of more workplaces, practical training could become increasingly important for employees, job seekers, teachers and business owners. Verizon’s expanded program is designed to make those skills available to more people as the U.S. workforce adjusts to the growing use of artificial intelligence.
