Walmart to give free AI training to its 1.6 million US and Canada workers
Feb 22nd 2026
Walmart will offer an eight-hour Google AI Professional Certification to frontline and corporate staff as the company seeks to upskill employees amid low AI fluency and growing workplace use.
- Walmart is providing free access to an eight-hour Google AI Professional Certification to its 1.6 million associates in the US and Canada.
- The training covers AI fundamentals and applications such as research, app building, and communication.
- A Google and Ipsos study found 40% of US workers use AI at work and only 5% are 'AI fluent'.
- The study found AI fluent workers were 4.5 times more likely to receive higher wages.
- Walmart says the program aims to retain staff and reshape jobs rather than reduce headcount.
- Other employers including Verizon, Colgate-Palmolive, and Deloitte also offer the Google AI credential to employees.