Verizon Invested $70 Million in AI Training
The nationwide initiative provides AI resources to job seekers and small businesses to address economic shifts.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Should large corporations be responsible for funding worker AI retraining programs?
Verizon has launched a $70 million investment program to provide artificial intelligence training to job seekers, small businesses, and educators. This effort builds upon a previous $20 million commitment intended for workforce development.
Why it matters
As industries undergo rapid transformation, this initiative seeks to help the workforce acquire technical skills required for new roles in an AI-driven economy. Verizon CEO Dan Schulman aims to catalyze broader participation from other Fortune 100 firms to scale this model into a multibillion-dollar fund.
The initiative represents an additional $50 million investment above Verizon's earlier commitment. It integrates AI training materials supplied by tech firms including IBM, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI.
The players
Verizon
A major telecommunications firm managing a national network and infrastructure stack.
Dan Schulman
The CEO of Verizon who is leading the company's strategic pivot toward AI workforce development.
Goodwill Industries
A non-profit organization that provides job training and employment placement services.
The details
The program leverages a repository of educational resources provided by major technology companies to reach participants via non-profit organizations like Goodwill Industries. By distributing these materials through established local channels, the initiative aims to bridge the skills gap for workers facing automation-driven displacement, a factor highlighted by the company's recent announcement of 13,000 job cuts.
Timeline
In 2025, Verizon committed an initial $20 million toward internal AI training programs.
On September 23, 2026, Verizon announced the expansion of this effort to a $70 million nationwide initiative.
The Tech Race
This program positions Verizon as a leader in corporate AI workforce transitions amid the broader industry shift toward automation. The company seeks to set a standard for how large-scale employers manage human capital in an era of rapid technical displacement.
Job seekers and small business owners in the United States will be able to access specialized training materials from companies like OpenAI and Microsoft through non-profit partners. Details regarding enrollment windows and specific location availability remain to be determined by the organizers.
The takeaway
This $70 million commitment underscores the growing pressure on large employers to mitigate the social impact of AI-driven job displacement. Readers should watch for announcements from other Fortune 100 companies regarding their potential participation in Schulman's proposed multibillion-dollar fund.
Further reading
For more on how major organizations are adapting to changing labor demands, see our coverage of Artificial Intelligence.
Live Poll
Should large corporations be responsible for funding worker AI retraining programs?
