As the global regulatory landscape around artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, Google is taking steps to influence both public perception and policy, particularly in education and workforce adaptation. The tech giant, already grappling with regulatory challenges in its advertising and search businesses, is keen to ensure that AI development and its implications are understood by governments and the broader public.
Kent Walker, Alphabet’s president of global affairs, emphasized that educating people and organizations about AI is essential for creating better policies and unlocking new opportunities. “Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities – it’s a virtuous cycle,” Walker stated. Google sees this effort as crucial as it competes with rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Meta to lead the AI space.
The company’s regulatory troubles are far from over. In Europe, Google has offered to sell part of its advertising technology business to appease regulators, while in the U.S., the Department of Justice is challenging Google’s monopoly in the search business. These ongoing challenges highlight the added scrutiny Google faces, not just in AI but across its broader business operations.
In response to the evolving landscape of AI regulation, particularly in areas like copyright and privacy, Google is positioning itself as a proactive player. The European Union’s AI Act, which calls for risk assessments and disclosures from general-purpose AI systems, poses a significant challenge for tech giants, including Google. The potential for massive fines under these regulations makes the company’s push for AI education and workforce preparation a strategic one.
Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, has emphasized the importance of AI education, announcing a $120 million fund to build AI education programs in September. Walker and Ruth Porat, Google’s president and chief investment officer, have been actively traveling to discuss policy recommendations with governments around the world. One key focus is addressing the potential job displacement caused by AI.
“There’s a lot of upside in terms of helping people who may be displaced by this. We do want to focus on that,” said Walker, highlighting Google’s commitment to workforce retraining. The company’s “Grow with Google” program, which offers online and in-person training in technical fields such as data analysis and IT support, is one example. With a million certificates awarded so far, Google is adding AI-focused courses, such as ones aimed at educators, to expand the program’s impact.
However, Walker pointed out that courses alone won’t suffice. “What really matters is if you have some sort of objective that people are working towards, like a credential that people can use to apply for a job,” he said. Google is also exploring public-private partnerships to foster job training. The “Skilled Trades and Readiness” program, which partners with community colleges to prepare workers for data center jobs, is a model Google wants to expand, incorporating AI education.
Looking toward the future, Walker anticipates that while a small fraction of jobs may be fully displaced by AI, most jobs will integrate AI to some extent. Studies commissioned by Google, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey indicate that AI’s role in the workforce will grow, but its impact will vary by job sector.
To better understand these shifts, Google has hired economist David Autor as a visiting fellow to study AI’s effects on the workforce. Autor, who has experience in adult retraining, highlighted the need for immersive, practical training methods, such as flight simulators, rather than traditional classroom instruction. “Adults don’t want to go back to class. Classroom training is not going to be the solution to a lot of retraining,” Autor noted.
Google’s efforts to shape the narrative around AI, particularly through education and workforce retraining, are integral to its long-term strategy in an increasingly AI-driven world. As regulations loom and public perception of AI evolves, the company hopes its proactive stance will help steer both policy and workforce adaptation in a way that benefits both the economy and society at large.
Related topics:
Biden’s Economic Adviser Warns Trump’s Policies Could Reignite Inflation
UBS Urges Short Position on India’s Rupee, Warns of Economic Slowdown Amid External Risks
J.B. Hunt’s Q4 Earnings Fall Short as Declining Revenue and Costs Weigh on Performance
