Google Pledges $1 Billion for Free AI Tools and Training for Students

Details

• Google is investing $1 billion over three years to advance AI education and workforce training, unveiling free access to its top-tier AI tools for college students starting August 2025.
• The free Google AI Pro plan, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, and NotebookLM, will be available for 12 months to students aged 18 and older in the US, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil.
• More than 100 US colleges and universities, such as the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and University of Virginia, have joined the AI for Education Accelerator as part of the rollout.
• A new Guided Learning mode in Gemini is launching, designed with educators to provide step-by-step learning support, aiming to improve critical thinking and understanding over offering simple answers.
• Google’s initiative builds on its broad presence in education—already serving over 80% of the top 100 US universities with Workspace for Education—and positions it to compete with Microsoft’s Copilot and Learning Accelerators efforts in the sector.

Impact

This is the largest single financial commitment to AI education to date, signaling Google’s ambitions to set the standard for AI-powered academic tools. By targeting students globally and offering an extensive free suite, Google intensifies its rivalry with Microsoft and aims to cultivate a new generation fluent in AI applications, potentially reshaping future educational and professional landscapes.