Verizon Invested $70 Million in AI Training

The telecommunications giant launched a nationwide program to provide artificial intelligence skills training.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold vector editorial illustration of an interconnected bundle of fiber-optic cables held by a metallic ring, representing AI training infrastructure. — Verizon has committed $70 million toward a nationwide AI training program, aiming to prepare job seekers and educators for roles in an evolving labor market. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Verizon has committed $70 million toward an artificial intelligence training initiative for job seekers, small businesses, and educators. The program leverages training materials from major tech firms like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI.

Why it matters

The investment aims to help workers transition into artificial intelligence roles as the labor market undergoes economic transformation. Verizon CEO Dan Schulman hopes the initiative will inspire a broader multibillion-dollar effort among Fortune 100 companies.

The initiative utilizes AI training resources sourced from industry leaders including IBM, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI. This $70 million total includes $50 million in new funding added to an existing $20 million commitment.

The players

Verizon

Verizon is a multinational telecommunications conglomerate that provides wireless and broadband services across the United States.

Dan Schulman

Dan Schulman is the CEO of Verizon who is currently spearheading the company's focus on workforce development and artificial intelligence integration.

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries is a prominent non-profit organization that provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs.

The details

Verizon is collaborating with non-profit organizations, including Goodwill Industries, to distribute these training modules across the United States. The effort follows a series of workforce shifts, including 13,000 announced job cuts at the company.

In 2025, Verizon invested $20 million in AI training for departing employees.
On September 23, 2026, Verizon announced the new $70 million AI training effort.

The Tech Race

This program reflects a growing corporate trend of addressing workforce disruption caused by rapid artificial intelligence adoption. It mirrors efforts by major firms to pivot human capital toward new technical capabilities as legacy roles are phased out.

Job seekers and small business owners may gain access to high-level technical training resources previously available only to specialized developers. Participants should monitor local Goodwill Industries locations for enrollment information as the program rolls out.

The takeaway

Large-scale corporate retraining programs are becoming a primary strategy for major companies to manage labor shifts in the age of automation. Workers should evaluate whether current professional certification opportunities can help them pivot to the expanding technical services economy.