Google.org, which is in charge of Google 's philanthropy, announced that GeniePie, which operates Korea's largest generative AI learning community, Zipters, and AwesomeSchool, an educational impact company, were selected as the first recipients of the 'Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific.'
The Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific is a program designed to help workers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and non-profit organizations in the Asia Pacific region more effectively utilize AI technologies to contribute to their communities.
According to a recent survey released by the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), a social investor network, only 15% of people in the Asia-Pacific region have received AI education, and most are not even aware of the existence of related education. Accordingly, Google.org is supporting regionally tailored AI education to expand opportunities to utilize AI technology and enable many people to benefit.
This first round of support will support 49 organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Korea, and these organizations selected by AVPN will provide customized AI training that reflects the language, culture, and economic situation of each region with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The program will be operated for various groups, such as solo entrepreneurs in rural India, migrant domestic workers in Singapore, and people with disabilities and caregivers in Japan.
In Korea, Seoul National University AI Institute (AIIS) is participating as a strategic partner, and GeniePie and AwesomeSchool are selected domestic organizations. Seoul National University AI Institute is leading the development of curriculum for beginners in AI and educator training programs, and will be in charge of supporting the improvement of educational quality through localization of content, beta testing, and feedback improvement in cooperation with educational institutions on the ground.
Based on 'GPTERS', the largest generative AI learning community in Korea, GeniePie operates the GPTERS AI Study and supports the strengthening of AI practical capabilities through a practice-centered curriculum and a virtuous cycle learning structure. GeniePie CEO Kim Tae-hyun said, "'Practical AI utilization skills' are now emerging as a key requirement in the job market," and "Through this selection, we will expand the educational environment where anyone can learn without burden so that young people can innovate work processes through AI and actively adopt new technologies."
Awesome School operates a 'Train-the-Trainer' model that aims to strengthen teachers' practical capabilities in utilizing AI based on its network of approximately 4,000 middle and high schools nationwide and its teacher training experience. Awesome School CEO Lee Ji-seop said, "The core of education is to provide teachers with the experience of discovering problems they face in the field and seeking solutions through AI," and "Through this, we hope that AI technology will naturally spread to fellow teachers and other schools."
“This project aims to create social value, and is particularly meaningful in that it supports classes that have been left out of technological advancements,” said Jongmin Ham, director of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Center at Seoul National University’s AI Research Institute.
“Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific aims to expand AI education opportunities for underserved communities and build a more inclusive technology ecosystem across the Asia Pacific region,” said Sanjay Gupta, Asia Pacific Regional Director, Google.org. “Google will continue to work together to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the potential of AI.”
Meanwhile, Google.org has expanded its existing $15 million fund by adding $12 million, for a total of $27 million. Through this, it plans to strengthen the practical AI utilization capabilities of 720,000 workers, 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and 10,000 non-profit organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, and contribute to improving digital infrastructure accessibility and narrowing the education gap.
More information about the 2025 'Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific' program and awardees can be found on the official Google Korea blog.
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