Verizon’s national push to teach AI skills will have a hands-on home in Jersey City.
The company on Wednesday announced a $1 million grant to Liberty Science Center. The money will create interactive programming that introduces visitors to the AI training tools at the heart of Verizon AI Skills for America, the $70 million workforce initiative Verizon launched at the center the same day.
Verizon launches $70M AI Skills for America
Verizon’s new initiative offers free AI training from IBM, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI and others to job seekers, workers, educators and small businesses, with local support from community groups. Learn more at verizon.com/aiskillsforamerica. Read the story here.
CEO Dan Schulman detailed the gift at the end of a fireside chat with Gov. Mikie Sherrill, noting how the center will teach kids of all ages AI skills.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Liberty Science Center,” Schulman said.
Sherrill applauded the announcement.
“I think what Verizon’s doing under Dan’s leadership is so important with this investment into places like Liberty Science Center, because here is a place where kids can come and see some of the impacts of science,” she said.
The grant is the latest chapter in a long partnership. Verizon is a founding corporate sponsor of SciTech Scity, the 30-acre innovation campus Liberty Science Center is developing to bring together scientists, entrepreneurs and students.
Donna Epps, Verizon’s senior vice president and chief responsible business officer, said the two share a mission.
“Verizon and LSC have a shared vision of empowering the learners and leaders of tomorrow, and we’re excited to work together to create programming that evokes curiosity for new technologies for educators, families and students from across the state,” she said.
The audience is a big one. The center said it welcomes more than 800,000 visitors a year, including more than 280,000 students.
Paul Hoffman, president and CEO of Liberty Science Center, said the goal is to let people try the technology for themselves.
“We look forward to creating a program that allows our guests to experience the power of this technology firsthand in an accessible, hands-on environment,” he said.
