• Practical AI skills for everyone Feb 19, 2026 Master the AI skills employers value most with the new Google AI Professional Certificate. • General summary Google is launching the Google AI Professional Certificate to help bridge the AI skills gap. • Employers like Walmart and Verizon will use this certificate to train their employees on AI. • Google is also offering no-cost access to the new AI Professional Certificate and Google Workspace Business Standard to every small business; apply at grow.google/small-business. • Google is launching the Google AI Professional Certificate to help bridge the AI skills gap. • Employers like Walmart and Verizon will use this certificate to train their employees on AI.

Article Summaries:

  • Google has launched a new AI Professional Certificate aimed at bridging the AI skills gap in the U.S. workforce. The program builds on the popular Google AI Essentials course and targets managers who say AI training is critical, yet only 14 % of workers have received it. Major employers such as Walmart, Deloitte, and Verizon will use the certificate to train staff, while Google offers free access to the course and three months of Google Workspace Business Standard to small businesses nationwide. Participants gain hands‑on experience with Google AI Pro and practical use cases in communication, data analysis, content creation, and low‑code app development. The initiative is part of Google’s broader Career Certificates program, which has already helped over a million graduates improve career outcomes.

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