Google.org has on Monday announced the expansion of the its AI Opportunity Fund by $12 million, to help more workers, small businesses and nonprofits in Asia Pacific (APAC) to make the most of artificial intelligence (AI) in their communities.

The firm said in a statement that this includes $10 million in additional support to AVPN to continue equipping APAC workers for the changing job market, with the goal to train 720,000 workers and 100,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the region.

It is noted that MSMEs are the backbone of Asia Pacific’s economy, representing 96 percent of all companies, and employing up to 80 percent of the workforce.

Yet research shows many struggle with AI skills development due to limited training accessibility, lack of access to digital infrastructure and constrained financial resources.

The funding also includes a $2 million grant to Infoxchange to reach 10,000 nonprofits in the APAC region with AI training and tools, including on recent Gemini features launched in Google for Nonprofits products.

This will help these organizations use AI for social good and create positive change in their communities.

“A shift towards an AI-powered economy needs to be fair and inclusive, so all workers have the necessary knowledge and tools to participate,

“Through the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific and our ongoing collaborations, we’re committed to making sure everyone can benefit from the potential of AI,” said the statement.

According to the statement, AI presents a significant opportunity for economic growth and workforce transformation in APAC.

However, it noted many people don’t have the skills they need to make the most of this opportunity.

58 percent of people in APAC are excited about AI’s potential but only 15 perccent have received AI training and most are unaware this type of training exists, according to a new report from AVPN, a network of social investors.

“This illustrates the critical need for the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific. Our goal is to help everyone in the region unlock the opportunities of AI,” said the statement.

Google.org is also introducing the 49 social impact organizations that will receive funding from the first phase of the Fund, selected by AVPN through their open call and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

According to the statement, APAC’s rapidly growing workforce of 2 billion people is incredibly varied in language, culture and economic context.

The organizations will provide localized AI training and resources to those who need it most — from “solopreneurs” in rural parts of India to migrant domestic workers in Singapore to people with disabilities and their caregivers in Japan.

The programs include practical AI uses tailored to each local market for more relevant and effective training. This targeted approach will help bridge existing gaps in AI-related workforce development to help ensure no one is left behind.

#AIOpportunityFund #AIForGood #APACSkills #GoogleOrg #InclusiveAI