Google has launched its new online learning platform, Google Skills, where people can take courses to build AI skills and earn certifications. The platform offers a vast catalog of about 3,000 courses, credentials, and labs, which were previously scattered across different online portals.
In other words, Google Skills is a giant umbrella that curates courses from Grow with Google, Google Cloud, Google DeepMind, and Google for Education. Of course, artificial intelligence and generative AI are the primary focus of Google Skills. But you can find courses around data analytics, network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and productivity, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
The search giant notes that users have completed over 26 million courses, labs, and credentials in the past year to build in-demand skills.
Like other popular learning apps, Google has tried to gamify the platform with streaks to track progress, streak freezes, skill badges, and options to share achievements on social media. Google Cloud customers using the platform can get personalized features, an advanced reporting hub, friendly leagues, and company-specific leaderboards.
With each passing day, it is becoming harder to keep up with the pace of technology, and recent studies suggest that the average half-life of a skill has shrunk from 6 years to 2.5 years. Moreover, Google notes that about 95% of learners report being more likely to complete a course or training if it includes gamified experiences like streaks, leaderboards, and celebrations.
Apart from that, the search giant has also announced the Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready (GEAR) program for one million developers to build, deploy, and manage AI agents on its new Google Enterprise platform. Google said that it will use a cohort-based approach to train developers using Gemini Enterprise.
Users can join Google Skills for free with their Google account to access the catalog of courses and labs, along with 35 free credits per month. However, they"ll have to buy a paid subscription to access other stuff like hands-on learning labs at all levels and career certificates.