Amazon announced new commitments to support artificial intelligence (AI) education initiatives in the United States, aligning with the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth. At a recent event attended by education, technology, and government leaders, Amazon outlined its plans to expand access to AI skills training and resources.
According to Amazon, by 2028 the company aims to provide AI skills training for 4 million U.S. learners and enable AI curricula for 10,000 educators. Amazon will also offer up to $30 million in AWS promotional credits for eligible organizations developing educational solutions using cloud and AI technologies. Additionally, the company will contribute up to $200,000 in AWS credits and $1.5 million in cash prizes as part of its support for the Presidential AI Challenge.
“We’ll achieve these goals both via our direct offerings and our partnership with a range of organizations that work with students of all ages,” an Amazon representative said.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud division, operates digital learning centers offering over 135 free and low-cost courses on AI and machine learning through platforms such as AWS Educate and AWS Skill Builder. The Machine Learning University program—originally created for internal employee training—is now available externally as a professional development resource for higher education educators. This program integrates open-sourced content into academic curricula using AWS tools like Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Bedrock.
Through AWS Academy, educators can access generative AI curriculum designed to help them teach emerging technology concepts efficiently. The academy provides free cloud computing and AI curriculum tailored for higher education institutions, preparing students for industry-recognized certifications and technology jobs.
The $30 million commitment in AWS promotional credits is part of a broader global initiative aimed at helping organizations build digital tools such as chatbots, teaching assistants, and lesson plan generators that can enhance educational access across the country.
Amazon’s philanthropic program, Amazon Future Engineer (AFE), focuses on increasing student exposure to computer science education and AI through project-based learning modules. To date, AFE has supported more than 2.1 million students who have received over 17 million hours of computer science instruction—including foundational skill building and interdisciplinary exploration of AI topics. AFE Career Tours connect classrooms with role models from the field, giving students real-world insights into computer science and AI applications.
“Amazon is providing $30 million in AWS promotional credits to help organizations create educational solutions,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
“Amazon will contribute up to $200,000 in AWS credits and $1.5 million in cash prizes to support the Presidential AI Challenge,” according to company representatives.
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