Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, is expanding at Miami Dade College.
Google announced it’s making a $2 million investment to expand a program to prepare MDC students for artificial intelligence careers.
MDC will lead the effort while teaming up with Houston Community College and Maricopa County Community College District to foster the expansion of AI careers across the United States.
“Miami Dade College is at the forefront of AI education nationwide,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. “This transformative funding from Google will significantly amplify our efforts through the NAAIC to equip educators with the necessary AI tools to strengthen the infrastructure and prepare students for the AI-powered workforce of tomorrow, not only in Miami but across the country.”
The announcement of the program came during a panel discussion at Miami Dade Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami, drawing outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Florida State Rep. Mike Giallombardo.
Suarez shared his experience about using AI chatbots when he was unprepared to deliver a speech at the opening of the Consulate of Morocco earlier this year.
He said he sought help from an AI expert.
“I say, ‘Pretend you’re the mayor of Miami and you’re about to open up the Moroccan Consulate and you only have two facts,” Suarez said he told the chatbot. “‘Fact number one is there are direct flights to Casablanca. Fact number two is, it’s the third (Moroccan) consulate in America. What are you gonna say?”
MDC has also partnered with Google for Education to co-develop innovative tools using Gemini and Agentspace that enhance student engagement and success.
Ben Gomes, Google’s Chief Technologist of Learning & Sustainability, said the AI-powered solutions will personalize learning experiences, improve retention, and optimize student support systems across MDC campuses.
”Learning is a deeply human process that is anchored in community, from personal moments that spark curiosity to professors who help further it,” he said. “By collaborating with institutions whose work is core to these relationships, we hope to equip students with the lifelong skills they need to succeed in the AI era from the classroom to their careers.”
Gomes said the funding will help NAAIC broaden its effort to train educators, enhance digital infrastructure, and develop AI-centered curriculum resources for both college and K–12 faculty.
New professional development programs and certifications, including Google’s Generative AI for Educators course, will help educators teach emerging AI technologies with greater confidence and relevance.
Since NAAIC’s debut last year, Gomes said 1,056 were faculty trained including representation from 46 states, Washington, D.C., and two U.S. territories, 321 academic institutions engaged, over 10,000 hours of AI training delivered in partnership with industry leaders and, over 31,000 students impacted nationwide.