Google invests in AI education programs across Canada

Google has invested in STEM outreach organization, Actua, to enable the development of AI education programs across Canada.

Google has recently announced a grant of $500,000 to Actua, Canada’s largest STEM outreach organization, to develop an artificial intelligence curriculum for high school students across the country.

Google said the new AI education program will look at existing high school curriculums to identify areas of improvement and Actua will then work with a team of Google’s AI experts to develop new content that covers the basic principles of AI.

The new programs will aim at helping pupils to understand AI and “how it will influence future careers beyond just computer science”. The pilot program will continue until 2020.

Actua estimates the new AI education programs will reach up to 15,000 students across the country.

AI education programs

Actua CEO, Jennifer Flanagan, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Google on such an important initiative to equip Canadian students with the opportunity to learn the basic building blocks of computer science and AI fundamentals.

“With this funding, Actua will be integrating AI lessons across multiple subjects and grades, both in classrooms and through outreach activities ensuring students have a strong foundation in AI as they head towards post-secondary paths and careers.”

The grant is specific to Actua’s Codemakers program, which Google has invested in 2015 to help deliver digital skill-building experiences to youths across Canada.

Innovation, science and economic development minister, Navdeep Bains, was at the event to acknowledge the investment and to speak towards promoting education in STEM. He said: “When we support skills development in areas of STEM, we can build a nation of innovators and digital economy that works for everyone.

“Artificial intelligence represents the single largest transformative technology in the world and a unique economic opportunity.”

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