Google is contributing $10 million (€9.2m) to the Manufacturing Institute to support new artificial intelligence training for 40,000 manufacturing workers across the United States, in a move that addresses a growing skills gap in the sector. Fox Business reported on the initiative on 13 April 2026.

Funding is coming from Google.org's AI Opportunity Fund and will go to the Manufacturing Institute, the nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Google's funding will enable the creation of two new courses: AI 101 for Manufacturing and Advanced AI for Manufacturing Technicians. The first course will adapt existing Google AI training to manufacturing contexts, while the advanced course will be newly developed by the Manufacturing Institute.

The Manufacturing Institute will also launch new Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) chapters in at least 15 new regions, with the Advanced AI for Manufacturing Technicians course embedded across all FAME chapters.

The partnership aims to address a projected shortfall of nearly 1.9 million manufacturing jobs in the United States by 2033, by equipping workers with the technical skills to use AI tools effectively on the shop floor.

Maggie Johnson, global head of Google.org, said: "By supporting new AI training for manufacturers and the expansion of FAME apprenticeships, we're helping ensure the current and next generation of workers are ready to lead this new industrial era."

Carolyn Lee, president of the Manufacturing Institute, said the training is designed to directly close that gap by providing workers with the context of how AI can be applied in real manufacturing production settings. When manufacturers have a workforce that can effectively use these tools, they're able to adopt advanced technologies faster, operate more efficiently and stay competitive on a global stage.

Access the full report on Google's manufacturing AI training initiative here.