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Google’s AI Campus in Somers Town, Camden, sets the stage for the next generation of AI talent with £865K investment

Google launched its first AI Campus in London. The new initiative will help cultivate the future of artificial intelligence. This campus, in Somers Town, Camden, will help support young talent in the area and bring more diversity into the AI field. The event was marked by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's speech to the effect that digital skills are essential for future generations.

Two-Year AI Education Pilot to Inspire Local Talent

This new AI Campus will provide a two-year pilot program for students aged 16 to 18. It equips them with state-of-the-art AI and machine learning resources, mentorship from Google DeepMind, and working experience with real-world projects. The projects are mainly in the health, social sciences, and arts sectors where students will learn how to apply AI to address diverse issues both locally and globally.

The pilot has already started with 32 students. Google ensured that participants from underrepresented communities, especially those eligible for Free School Meals, were selected, so this opportunity reaches those who need it most. It is a joint initiative between Google, Camden Council, and Camden Learning.

This initiative isn’t just about providing students with technical skills. It’s about preparing them for the future of work in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Starting in mid-2025, the AI Campus will expand its reach beyond the initial cohort, offering AI education to more students from Camden’s broader student body. The goal is to enhance digital literacy, offering AI-focused masterclasses and out-of-school learning experiences for all students.

In addition to its campus launch, Google.org has pledged a £865,000 grant. This funding will be used for Experience AI, a nationwide education project for improving AI literacy across the UK run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. By 2026, this program will train up to 250,000 students, helping to develop skills in teachers to teach AI and machine learning.

The digit and AI skill-building campaign pushed by Google shares much of the company's core goal, which is making all the information and resources out there available to anyone. As the launch aims to teach AI knowledge to the students, this power can help mold the future into an innovative and creative society. Thus, the push toward that front ensures all kinds of students could be included in AI innovation.