Verizon announced a $70 million investment in Verizon AI Skills for America, a nationwide initiative to equip job seekers, early career professionals, displaced workers, educators, and small businesses with artificial intelligence skills. The program combines $20 million from Verizon’s existing Reskilling and Career Transition Fund with $50 million in new funding to offer free, best-in-class AI training.
The initiative responds to the growing demand for AI literacy across industries. “AI isn’t just a technological shift—it will change the face of every workforce around the world,” said Dan Schulman, Verizon CEO. “Companies, working closely together and with the public sector, have a responsibility to invest in people with the same urgency they invest in technology.”
Verizon is curating a one-stop portal that aggregates training content from leading AI experts, including IBM, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, Coursera, and OpenAI. This premium training typically costs more than $700 per person annually, but will be offered at no charge. “Creating meaningful economic opportunity in the AI era is not something any one company can achieve alone,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer of Verizon.
The program’s cornerstone is collaboration with mission-based organizations such as Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, and Goodwill Industries International. These groups will provide hands-on coaching and local support to turn online coursework into practical skills. “Real workforce transformation happens at the community level,” said Steven C. Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Partnering with Verizon allows us to help people build practical AI skills through their local Goodwill.”
The initiative launches nationwide with core wrap-around services in select regional markets, and Verizon will gather real-time feedback to adapt to workforce needs. For more information or to register, visit verizon.com/aiskillsforamerica. The announcement was originally published by Verizon; Read the original press release. To find a retail location, visit verizon.com/stores.
This investment matters because it addresses the urgent need to reskill the American workforce as AI transforms industries. By providing free access to premium training and community-based support, Verizon aims to help workers retain jobs, navigate career transitions, and enable small businesses to grow. The initiative also exemplifies cross-sector collaboration, with tech partners and nonprofits joining forces to build an inclusive AI-ready workforce and strengthen the U.S. economy.
