Google Canada just announced a big investment in the country’s AI workforce. The tech giant is putting $13 million into a new fund to help train Canadians in artificial intelligence skills.
The money comes from Google.org, the company’s charitable arm. It will go to four Canadian organizations that will teach AI skills to more than 2 million people across the country.
Why This Matters Now
Canada has a problem with AI adoption. While the country leads in AI research, it lags behind other nations when it comes to actually using the technology. Only 26% of Canadian businesses have adopted AI, compared to 34% globally, according to a recent Deloitte report.
The main reason? Companies can’t find workers with the right AI skills. A 2024 report from the Future Skills Centre found this is the top barrier stopping Canadian businesses from using AI in their operations.
Google Canada’s VP Sabrina Geremia said the company wants to change this. “We have been incredible in the research phase of developing AI tools,” she explained. “And I’d love to see us be as great on the adoption.”
Who Gets the Money
The $13 million will be split between four organizations:
Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) gets $5 million. They will help 25 colleges and universities across Canada add AI courses to their programs. The goal is to train 125,000 students with basic AI skills.
First Nations Technology Council receives over $2.7 million. This group will train 335 Indigenous students in AI and provide resources to 7,000 other community members. Currently, less than 1% of Indigenous people work in tech.
Skills for Change also gets over $2.7 million. This Toronto-based organization will teach AI skills to 20,000 people from communities with high unemployment. They focus on newcomers and other underserved groups.
Toronto Public Library receives the same amount. They will launch a city-wide AI training program for over 11,000 people from equity-deserving groups and reach more than 2 million Toronto residents through workshops and online programs.
The Economic Impact
Google believes AI could be huge for Canada’s economy. A recent report says generative AI could add $230 billion to Canada’s economy and save the average Canadian worker 175 hours per year.
But this only works if people have the right skills. The good news is that Canadians want to learn. About 63% of workers are interested in developing AI skills, with interest rising to 72% among younger Canadians.
Current AI Usage in Canada
Right now, AI adoption in Canada is growing but still limited. Statistics Canada found that only about 6% of Canadian businesses were using AI to produce goods or services as of 2024.
However, worker use is increasing. A KPMG study found that 46% of Canadian workers are now using generative AI in their jobs, up from just 22% last year.
What the Organizations Plan to Do
Each group has specific goals:
The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute wants to create easy-to-use AI course materials that teachers can add to their existing classes. CEO Cam Linke says this will help students across all subjects understand how AI works.
The First Nations Technology Council will develop AI programs specifically for Indigenous students. Director Kim Henderson says they want to make sure Indigenous communities have “a seat at the table” in the AI revolution.
Skills for Change will add AI training to all their existing programs. CEO Surranna Sandy says they don’t want anyone left behind as AI changes the job market.
The Toronto Public Library will offer free AI tools and training to the public. They plan to teach people both the benefits and risks of AI technology.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the hype around AI, many companies that have adopted it haven’t seen clear benefits yet. A recent study of 7,000 workplaces found no significant impact on earnings or work hours from AI chatbots.
Another study by Boston Consulting Group found only 25% of executives surveyed had seen real value from AI investments.
This shows that just having AI isn’t enough – companies and workers need proper training to use it effectively.
The Bigger Picture
This announcement is part of Google’s broader commitment to AI education in Canada. The company already offers free AI training through its “Grow with Google” program and Google Career Certificates.
Google sees Canada as uniquely positioned to succeed with AI because of the country’s strong research history and growing tech sector. But turning that research into real-world benefits requires training workers at all levels.
The funding will help bridge the gap between Canada’s AI research excellence and practical adoption. As Geremia put it, “Innovation has always been a team sport, and AI is no different.”
