GCP – Upskill for the holidays: Check out no-cost AI training now

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to learn new skills in AI and more. Given the growing skills gap, our research with Ipsos shows that 70% of professionals set a goal to boost their knowledge in AI, machine learning, and generative AI over the next two years. Crucially, 65% prefer learning directly from industry experts to get relevant guidance.

Why not use this holiday season to invest in yourself? Explore no cost courses and hands-on labs from Google Cloud experts, available on Google Skills.

We’ve designed these trainings for everyone. You’ll find hands-on labs for technical practitioners, strategic courses for leaders driving AI adoption, tutorials and primers for non-technical workers and skill badges to showcase the skills you’ve attained.

There’s lots to explore on Google Skills, though knowing how busy everyone is — especially during the holiday season — we wanted to highlight a dozen promising courses and labs below for both technical and general learners.

For technical learners

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, these hands-on labs and courses give you the knowledge to apply AI immediately in your projects. You’ll learn practical applications — from fine-tuning models to deploying remote agents — and enjoy the gift of 35 free monthly credits. The best part? Our labs provide a sandbox environment so you can learn Google Cloud skills using the real thing.

1. Kickstarting Application Development with Gemini Code Assist (5 credits): Earn a skill badge in this course, where you’ll learn to use the power of Google’s AI coding assistant and multiple development technologies.

2. Get Started with Vibe Coding and Gemini CLI (3 credits): This lab explores Vibe coding, which uses AI to generate code from natural language to help you speed up your development and focus on the big picture. Keep going to earn the Build a Smart Cloud Application with Vibe Coding and MCP skill badge.

3. Use Model Context Protocol (MCP) Tools with ADK Agents (7 credits): This lab explores the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for integrating external services, data, tools, and applications. You’ll learn to integrate MCP into ADK agents, from the Agent Development Kit, to improve your workflows.

4. Streamline App Development with Gemini Code Assist (no credits required): This course covers the core features of Gemini Code Assist — like intelligent code suggestions and real-time error detection. You’ll boost your productivity and improve code quality, saving time for more enjoyable tasks.

5. Google Cloud AI Infrastructure (no credits required): This learning path offers on-demand courses in AI infrastructure for intermediate to advanced learners. You’ll gain the skills to design and deploy high-performance AI and machine learning solutions using powerful tools like the AI Hypercomputer and Google Kubernetes Engine. 

6. Supervised Fine-tuning for Gemini (2 credits): Learn to fine-tune Gemini models for specific tasks to improve the quality and efficiency of model outputs. You’ll get an overview of model tuning, Gemini options, usage, and execution.

7. Connect to Remote Agents with ADK and the Agent2Agent (A2A) SDK (7 credits): Deploy an ADK Agent as an A2A server, and use a JSON Agent Card to describe its capabilities. You’ll also enable another ADK agent as a sub-agent for complex tasks.

For non-technical learners

You don’t need to be a developer to use generative AI to boost your productivity. You’ll see exactly how gen AI is transforming every business role and get the skills you need to succeed — the ultimate holiday treat.

1. Generative AI Leader | Beyond the Chat Bot (no credits required): Start with “Beyond the Chat Bot,” covering Google Cloud AI tools like Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM. Then test and validate your gen AI knowledge with the Google Cloud Generative AI Leader certification exam.

2. Introduction to Gemini Enterprise (no credits required): You’ll explore Gemini Enterprise, a powerful platform that uses AI agents, enterprise search, NotebookLM and intelligent data access to solve organizational challenges. You’ll connect its capabilities to business needs, describe its architecture, and explain its data access and privacy handling.

3. Google AI Essentials (no credits required): Enhance your productivity across all roles and industries by gaining essential AI skills. This course teaches you how to use AI to generate ideas and content, assist with research, and speed up daily tasks like drafting email responses. Learn directly from Google AI experts how to use AI responsibly, and earn a certificate upon completion.

4. AI Boost Bites | Amplify Exec Voices with AI: (no credits required): Transform your daily work with practical, hands-on lessons from Google AI experts with short, 10-minute lessons. Start with the first lesson to learn how to drive real business results, fast.

5. Future-Proof Your AI Learning Strategy (no credits required): Continuous learning is key, especially in this rapidly evolving age of AI. This course shows you how to use Google Skills to help future-proof your organization. You’ll get ready-made materials, custom experiences, and blended learning strategies for positive returns.

Start your learning journey today with our generative AI content on Google Skills.