Google rolls out AI training course for professionals, Gemini update

Global tech company Google LLC on Tuesday launched an artificial intelligence (AI) training course in the Philippines aimed at helping workers develop practical AI skills for the workplace.

The new Google AI Professional Certificate is already available on Coursera and is composed of six comprehensive courses and a final capstone, delivered by Google experts and AI practitioners.

The courses cover the fundamentals of AI, introducing key concepts and effective prompting in the first course, up to the use of “vibe coding” to build custom and functional applications without coding in the capstone.

Learners will also be taught how to use AI for brainstorming and planning in Course 2, research and insights in Course 3, writing and communication in Course 4, content creation in Course 5, and data analysis in Course 6.

Google said the entire program can be completed in under 10 hours and at the learner’s own pace. Upon completion of each module, a shareable digital certificate is generated, which can be displayed on LinkedIn.

The program also features more than 20 hands-on activities, as well as three months of free access to Google AI Pro, allowing learners to practice with Google’s most advanced models within tools they already use, such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Gemini in Google Sheets.

The tech giant said the program aims to bridge the divide between the growing demand for AI-literate talent, which already has reached a “critical tipping point,” and the limited access to training among workers.

Only 14% of workers have been offered AI training, despite 70% of managers agreeing that an AI-trained workforce is vital for a company’s success, according to recent research by Google and Ipsos, a global market research firm.

NEW GEMINI UPDATE: PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE
Google also earlier launched the new Personal Intelligence feature in its Gemini app, which allows AI to securely access and organize information across Gmail, Photos, and Maps.
The feature is set to roll out soon in the Philippines and across the Asia-Pacific market, Google said.

It turns Search into a more personalized assistant, letting users retrieve information, plan itineraries, or pull details from their emails and photos without switching between apps.

Google said the feature is optional, and users retain full control over which apps are linked to the AI.

On the business side, the Gemini 3 update allows advertisers to target users more accurately by understanding the context of searches, which Google said can reduce irrelevant ads by 40%.

The update also introduces the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and Agentic Checkout, enabling AI to act as a personal shopper and automatically complete purchases when a user’s budget and price criteria are met.

Ads in AI Overviews are currently available in English on both mobile and desktop devices in key APAC regions, Google said. — Edg Adrian A. Eva