GCP – Google Skills: Your new home for Google AI learning and more

From the classroom to the boardroom, the world of work is shifting at an incredible pace. As advancements in AI and cloud computing gather speed, it’s not just about adapting — it’s about discovering powerful new ways to thrive, regardless of your role.

To help everyone keep up, we’re announcing three major updates to our learning programs, timed with the launch today of Gemini Enterprise.

• A new platform, Google Skills, that will bring together nearly 3,000 courses and labs in one place — including content from across Google Cloud, Google DeepMind, Grow with Google and Google for Education.
• A new initiative, the Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready (GEAR) program, aims to empower one million developers to start building enterprise-ready AI agents with our new Gemini Enterprise platform.
• A partnership with the financial services company Jack Henry to help hire skilled individuals quickly as part of our skills-based hiring initiative.

With these updates, we’re delivering on our commitment to help everyone access the AI learning they need — including our Google Cloud customers in search of skilled developers.

What’s new for Google Cloud learners, customers and partners on Google Skills?

To support people at all skill levels — from students to developers to executives — we’re introducing Google Skills. This new learning platform is designed to help people develop the skills they need to be successful in today’s job landscape, and to enable businesses to find and develop the talent they need to thrive. In the last year alone, people have completed more than 26 million courses, labs and credentials — and now they’re all in one place.

In addition to content from across Google — like new AI research courses from Google DeepMind — this launch brings with it a host of new content for our Cloud customers to keep them on the cutting edge of AI skill building:

1. Gemini Code Assist: AI-powered learning and new skill badges

Gemini Code Assist will help engineers, developers, data scientists and more jump right into coding with Gemini without leaving the Google Skills platform. It’s been enabled in more than 20 hands-on labs and will be part of all relevant labs going forward. And developers can also prove Gemini Code Assist skills by earning a new skill badge: Kickstarting Application Development with Gemini Code Assist.

We’re also meeting the vibe-coding moment with two new skill badges for app devs: Building a Smart Cloud Application with Vibe Coding & MCP establishes foundational knowledge and practical skills in Model Context Protocol server development and vibe coding on Google Cloud. Deploy an Agent with Agent Development Kit empowers devs to build advanced AI systems where different AI parts work together smoothly, using common methods like the Model Context Protocol, Agent-to-Agent protocol and Agent Development Kit.

1. A better experience for Google Cloud customers and organizations

You asked. We listened. As part of Google Skills, we’ve kept the best of Google Cloud Skills Boost, while adding features you’ve been waiting for on the all-new Google Skills platform. For example, Cloud customers will continue to have access to the entire Google Cloud content library for free, now including new content from Google DeepMind.

We’ve also added a new feature that lets you assign the most relevant courses and hands-on labs to your teams. This personalization benefits your business and accelerates your team’s ability to innovate.

Plus, you can now use company leaderboards — customized for your organization — that spark friendly competition and add a dose of fun. And finally, for Google Skills admins, we’ll be adding features to make reporting more advanced. That means more data, more flexibility and more insights that let you keep track of your team’s progress in real time.

1. Cloud learning has never been more fun: new gamified features

For organizations, Google Skills makes it easier to keep your teams engaged and up to date. This is key: 74% of decision makers agree that technical learning resources improve employee productivity, and 71% of organizations realize revenue gains after engaging with these resources.¹ In other words, more learning is a universal boon to business.

But learning alone isn’t enough. It needs to be fun, engaging and easy to fit into your schedule. That’s why we’re bringing new AI-powered and gamification features to Google Skills to make learning more effective.

Gamified features:

• Leagues: Encourage friendly competition based on earned points with this dashboard widget.
• Achievements: Celebrate your learning milestones with new visuals and easy options for social sharing.
• Learning streaks: Promote consistent learning habits through bonus points and “streak freezes.”

GEAR: A new sprint to empower one million developers

Today, we’re also announcing the Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready (GEAR) program, a new educational sprint designed to empower one million developers on our new agentic platform, Gemini Enterprise. Through a cohort-based approach, we will help them build, deploy and manage agents, and as part of GEAR, developers can earn skill badges through Google Skills.

A direct path to employment; a faster way to hire

Building skills isn’t just good for individual careers — it’s also good for business. That’s why with Google Skills, we’re making it easier for people to get the skills employers are looking for, and for companies to find the talent they need to succeed.

Today, we’re announcing that for those who complete a Google Cloud Certificate in cybersecurity or data analytics in the U.S., there’s now a direct pathway to an interview with leading financial services firm Jack Henry. You’ll get to complete custom, hands-on labs that simulate the company’s real-world scenarios. These labs act as the first stage of the company’s hiring process, giving you a tangible way to showcase your skills and land a new job. We’re excited to expand the model to more Google Cloud customers in the future.

“We are excited for our collaboration with Google Cloud to reimagine talent acquisition. By leveraging Google Cloud Certificates, we have been able to more effectively identify and recruit top talent, helping to fuel our growth to fill critical skill gaps.” – Holly Novak, Chief People Officer, Jack Henry

This initiative is especially important because businesses are actively looking for talent. A recent study found that 82% prefer to recruit and hire professionals who hold these credentials.²

For Google Cloud customers interested in bringing on skilled individuals to your company, learn more about the program here.

We’re just getting started. Whether you’re an individual looking to get hired or a business leader aiming to upskill your teams, there’s something for everyone to thrive in this new world of AI.

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¹ Google/Ipsos, Cloud Learning Services Market Pulse, Quantitative Portion Fielded Sept-Oct 2024, Qualitative Portion Fielded Oct-Nov 2024, (U.S., U.K., FR, DE, IN, BR, MX, JP, AU/N.Z.)

² Google/Ipsos, Cloud Learning Services Market Pulse, Quantitative Portion Fielded Sept-Oct 2024, Qualitative Portion Fielded Oct-Nov 2024, (U.S., U.K., FR, DE, IN, BR, MX, JP, AU/N.Z.)