Alphabet-owned Google has said it would spend €25 million in Europe to help people learn to use artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent.

In a blog post announcing the funding, Google said that AI will have a “transformative impact on Europe’s” economy and that it is “committed to ensuring that this opportunity is available to all”.

Google, which last week repositioned its consumer AI product as Gemini in an effort to better compete with Microsoft-backed OpenAI, said that it has opened applications for social enterprises and nonprofits that could help reach people most likely to benefit from training, with an initial €10 million going towards this.

The company said that it would also run a series of Google for Startups Growth Academies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The equity-free program is to support startups using AI to solve society’s biggest challenges, in health, education and cybersecurity, Google said.

As the final part of the AI Opportunity Initiative, Google said that it will expand its free-to-access AI foundational courses to 18 languages, and will add more resources to its existing Google Career Certificates programme.

Matt Brittin, president of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We’re pursuing AI boldly and responsibly to ensure that everyone can benefit. Innovation has always been a team sport, and AI is no exception. We’re committed to playing our part – working together with EU Governments, civil society, academics and businesses to find the right path to land this technology safely and for everyone.

“AI has the potential to help us build a better, fairer, healthier society – and to support competitiveness and inclusive growth. It’s up to all of us to make that happen: working boldly, responsibly and together.”

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