Google will invest $1 billion to expand its Virginia data centers while also launching an artificial intelligence fund that will help people learn essential AI skills, the company and Virginia’s governor announced Friday in Reston.
Google has two Loudoun County data center locations and a Prince William County campus. Its investment in Virginia now tops more than $4.2 billion.
The company’s investment in technical infrastructure supports AI innovations and will help grow Google Cloud business, said Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office. The NoVA data centers help power not only Google Cloud, but also Workspace. Workspace includes many services you may use: Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, searching, and maps.
“Our AI Essentials Course and $75 million Google.org AI Opportunity Fund will help provide access to the economic opportunities AI can offer,” said Ruth Porat, Google’s president and chief investment officer.
“Together with our partners and community-led organizations, Google is committed to delivering targeted AI skilling and training so that Virginians, veterans, and millions of others can make the most of the opportunities of today and tomorrow.”
The new $49 Coursera course will, in under 10 hours, give people “practical, hands-on experience using AI to help with work tasks through videos, readings, and interactive exercises,” said a news release from the governor’s office.
Those who take it will get a certificate from Google, and some nonprofits will have access to the course for free, including Goodwill and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which trains transitioning veterans.
Another NoVA Expansion
In other data sciences news, Youngkin’s office announced last week that Fairfax-based JDSAT, Inc., a veteran-owned application development and data sciences firm, would more than double its workforce. It will invest $630,000 to expand its NoVA operations.
The 57-worker firm, with a portfolio of federal defense contracts, plans to create 60 new technical staff and analyst positions to support AI, cloud computing, and its data science business.
“This new office opening signifies an exciting step in JDSAT’s growth, allowing us to expand both our teams and capabilities,” said Scott Woosley, CEO at JDSAT, Inc., in a news release. “As part of our commitment to provide a collaborative work environment for our talented staff, this new space offers the resources and amenities to thrive, fostering a sense of unity and inclusion.”
Jeffrey C. McKay, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, thanked JDSAT. “With the second-highest concentration of AI-related jobs in the country and an unparalleled regional workforce of qualified technical talent, Fairfax County is a perfect location for emerging tech companies like JDSAT to grow and realize exponential gains,” he said.
Feature image by KI Photography/stock.adobe.com
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