Georgia State University has received $6 million in funding from Google to create The AI Innovation Lab, an initiative aimed at increasing access to computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) education for students in the Atlanta area.
The new partnership will launch an after-school program focused on AI and machine learning (ML) for high school students from public schools across metro Atlanta. The daily curriculum will emphasize AI/ML literacy, problem-solving, design-thinking, and mentorship. Georgia State undergraduate and graduate students will serve as instructors and mentors in the program, while volunteers from Google will also participate.
According to university officials, this approach is intended both to give high school students foundational skills in AI and to prepare future educators who can bring similar training into classrooms throughout Georgia.
Georgia State’s location in downtown Atlanta, near major corporations and educational partners, supports its role as a driver of workforce development in the state.
“This collaboration with Google reflects what Georgia State does best — using innovation to expand opportunity,” said Georgia State University President M. Brian Blake. “Together, we’re preparing the next generation of thinkers and leaders who will shape Georgia’s — and our nation’s — future in the digital economy.”
L. Jared Abramson, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Georgia State, added: “At Georgia State, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. This collaboration with Google allows us to change that — to connect students in Atlanta’s public schools to the world of technology while preparing our own students to teach and lead in that space. We’re building pathways into the innovation economy that will have an impact far beyond our campus.”
The partnership aims to improve college readiness among local students and strengthen Georgia’s technology workforce by combining Georgia State’s academic resources with Google’s expertise.
“Google has proudly called Georgia home for more than two decades with an office in Atlanta and a data center in Douglas County,” said Google Cloud Chief Product Supply Officer Monique Picou (B.A. ’08). “We are committed to helping students and educators across the state access essential AI and digital skills training to succeed in the workforce and advance their economic opportunities. We are proud to collaborate with Georgia State University to ensure the opportunities created by technology are available to everyone in the state.”
Georgia State has been recognized nationally for its focus on innovation; U.S. News & World Report has ranked it among the top five most innovative public universities for 11 consecutive years.
