What happened
Google launched the AI Professional Certificate to standardise practical skills, including data analysis, content generation, and "vibe coding". Major employers like Walmart, Deloitte, and Verizon adopted the curriculum for internal workforce upskilling. The programme includes three months of Google AI Pro access. Concurrently, Google offered free certificate access and three months of Workspace Business Standard licences to US small businesses via partners including ADP and PayPal. This update integrates AI training across the entire Google Career Certificates portfolio.
Why it matters
For founders and HR leaders, this targets the disparity where 70% of managers demand AI fluency but only 14% of staff receive training. By bundling Google AI Pro and Workspace, Google lowers adoption barriers for small businesses while entrenching its ecosystem against Microsoft Copilot. For procurement teams, adoption by Walmart and Deloitte signals a shift toward standardised, vendor-specific credentialling. Consequently, organisations can validate non-technical "vibe coding" skills, reducing reliance on engineering resources for prototyping. This follows Google's recent $185B infrastructure commitment.
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