Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that California has reached agreements with Google, Adobe, IBM, and Microsoft to supply artificial intelligence tools and training to high schools, community colleges, and state universities. Speaking at Google’s San Francisco office, Newsom said the initiative will prepare students for careers in an economy increasingly shaped by AI, while helping them adapt to job losses in entry-level tech roles.
The partnerships will provide free services such as coding bootcamps, certification programs, and expanded internship opportunities through the CSU AI Workforce Acceleration Board, which links educators, industry leaders, and state officials to promote AI literacy across communities. California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian emphasized the need to reach underserved areas and build AI fluency statewide.
Newsom, a long-time ally of the tech sector, has avoided pushing state-level AI regulations, contrasting with federal inaction under President Donald Trump. The governor criticized Trump’s economic approach, calling it “crony capitalism,” and said California must create conditions for innovation and fair opportunity in the absence of national oversight.
The announcement comes alongside other state priorities. Newsom reported that California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has recovered 150,000 stolen goods valued at $8 million in the past seven months, bringing the total to nearly $60 million since the task force’s launch in 2019. The governor also highlighted new laws enacted in 2024 imposing tougher penalties for repeat property crime offenders.
Newsom continues to face a $787 million defamation lawsuit he filed against Fox News, accusing the network of falsely claiming he lied about a call with Trump. Fox has asked a Delaware court to dismiss the case, calling it politically motivated and protected under the First Amendment.
Framing the AI partnerships as a long-term investment in California’s economic resilience, Newsom said the state must ensure its workforce is ready for the demands of a rapidly changing technological landscape.
