“Learn to AI”: California propels workforce training with tech giants across public education system

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced partnerships with Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and IBM to integrate AI training and tools across the state’s community colleges and California State University system. The voluntary agreements aim to prepare students and educators for an AI-driven workforce while modernizing curricula and expanding access to generative AI technologies across California’s public education system.

What you should know: These memoranda of understanding formalize partnerships focused on workforce development, teacher training, and hands-on AI experience without any exchange of funds.

• Google is providing AI-focused training courses for students on effective prompting and for educators on using generative AI to personalize instruction and enhance classroom engagement.
• Adobe is offering access to Adobe Express and its Firefly generative AI platform, plus curriculum materials and professional development resources for teachers.
• Microsoft will roll out AI and cybersecurity boot camps statewide through community colleges and work with CSU career centers to improve career advising for workforce transitions.
• IBM is expanding access to its SkillsBuild platform, which offers free training in AI, data science, and cybersecurity.

The big picture: California is positioning its public education system as a training ground for the next generation of AI-capable workers while establishing formal industry partnerships to guide curriculum development.

• The CSU-Industry AI Workforce Acceleration Board will bring together state officials, AI industry partners, and the CSU system to guide workforce development and ensure students graduate with career-relevant AI competencies.
• California Community Colleges has already integrated AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Gemini NotebookLMs, along with credit-bearing Google certificates and Microsoft cybersecurity boot camps.

Why this matters: The partnerships target California’s massive public education infrastructure to address growing demand for AI-skilled workers across industries.

• “The next workforce of the world … is going to be an AI-empowered workforce,” said Dinesh Nirmal, senior vice president of products at IBM Software. “How do we train the students? How do we help the teachers and educators? And finally, how do we make sure the accessibility and the opportunities are available for everyone?”
• IBM has committed to providing tech skills to 30 million people worldwide by 2030 as part of its broader workforce development strategy.

Key details: The agreements extend beyond higher education to include high school AI training programs for teachers and generative AI tools for grades nine through 12.

• CSU Chancellor Mildred García said the system is developing a career portal to connect students with industry partners for internship opportunities.
• California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian emphasized that “our faculty need to be engaged with these tools to offer the curriculum and the pedagogy that is suitable for the 21st century.”

What they’re saying: Governor Newsom framed the partnerships as part of California’s broader competitive strategy in the AI economy.

• “There are simply no systems like it anywhere in the United States of America,” Newsom said. “This is the backbone of our workforce and economic development in California, the tentpole of the U.S. economy.”
• “The world, in many ways, we invented is now competing against us, and we’ve got to step up our game,” he added during the livestreamed San Francisco announcement.

Broader context: These education partnerships complement Newsom’s regulatory approach to AI, as he has signed 18 AI-related bills addressing misinformation and transparency while simultaneously working with tech companies on workforce development initiatives.