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Google and Goodwill have partnered to bring AI training to North American workers. A part of <a href="http://google.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google.org</a>’s AI Opportunity Fund, the two brands will offer <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodwill-and-google-offer-free-ai-essentials-training-in-north-america-302517781.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google’s AI Essentials</a> course for free in the U.S. and Canada.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-google-s-ai-essentials-course">What is Google’s AI Essentials course?</h2>



The self-paced course is focused on foundational AI skills. Estimated to take about <a href="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9884d2c5656f4084923917f373a4b0f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">six hours</a> to complete, Google’s AI Essentials is broken down into <a href="https://www.coursera.org/google-specializations/ai-essentials-gwg?action=enroll&amp;gwg_campaign_id=undefined&amp;gwg_exp=null&amp;utm_campaign=sou--direct__med--none-direct__cam--gwgsite__con--null__ter--null&amp;utm_medium=institutions&amp;utm_source=google" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">five sections</a>: a basic introduction to AI, increasing <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-your-company-can-use-ai-productively/">productivity with AI</a>, the best ways to prompt AI, reminders on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/ai-decision-making/">AI responsibility</a> and ways to stay ahead of the AI curve.



Through these five sections, users can expect to learn how to use AI to brainstorm ideas, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/google-docs-gemini-ai-integration/">speed up daily work tasks</a> and simplify research. Rather than simply viewing informational videos or articles, Google and Goodwill prioritize hands-on practice in the course, which can be completed through any generative AI platform, including ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot.







Google’s AI Essentials isn’t Goodwill’s first time to offer skill-development courses. Since 2017, Goodwill has offered Google’s digital skills programs, helping place 400,000 Americans in well-paying jobs. 



The new addition of the course is already returning promising results, with <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodwill-and-google-offer-free-ai-essentials-training-in-north-america-302517781.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">86%</a> of global graduates saying the AI skills they learned through the course will improve their productivity or efficiency at work.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-sign-up-nbsp">How to sign up&nbsp;</h2>



To sign up for the course, participants must fill out the <a href="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9884d2c5656f4084923917f373a4b0f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Google AI Essentials training request</a> form. Once the form is filled out, participants will receive an email from Coursera to enroll in the course.



After the form is submitted, participants have 30 days to complete the Google AI Essentials training. If the course isn’t completed by that time, the training form may be resubmitted.



Graduates from the Google AI Essentials course will receive a certificate from Google that can be shared on LinkedIn or with employers. For more information or questions on the program, contact learnai@goodwill.org.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-learn-about-ai">Why learn about AI?</h2>



The collaboration between Google and Goodwill to push North American workers toward AI learning comes at a time when AI skills are increasingly in demand. An <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/how-ai-changes-workplaces-aws-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon study</a> found that 73% of employers consider AI skills and experience a priority when hiring, but 75% of employers said they had issues finding candidates with the skill set they wanted.&nbsp;



The interest in AI isn’t just from employers—<a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/how-ai-changes-workplaces-aws-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">88%</a> of workers expect to use AI in their daily work by 2028. With both employers and employees looking to AI as the tool of the future, it’s important to start learning the ins and outs of AI. Gaining a basic knowledge of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/ai-tools-for-small-business-growth/">AI tools</a> will only serve workers well, and it’s easier than ever to achieve with free online programs.



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Google and Goodwill offer a free, 6-hour AI course to U.S. and Canadian workers. Learn practical AI skills and earn a certificate online.

Google and Goodwill offer a free, 6-hour AI course to U.S. and Canadian workers. Learn practical AI skills and earn a certificate online. | SUCCESS

Google Partners With Goodwill to Offer a Free AI Training Course: Here's How to Sign Up

Google Partners With Goodwill to Offer a Free AI Training Course: Here&#8217;s How to Sign Up

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Free AI Training for North American Workers by Google | SUCCESS

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Allie Tribe

Trends &amp; Insights

Trends &amp; Insights Archives

Trends &amp; Insights | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

According to a new study released by <a href="https://americanstaffing.net/posts/2025/07/17/social-media-presence-as-career-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The American Staffing Association</a>, workers have differing views on whether <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/social-media-for-professional-growth/">social media helps or harms one's career</a>. 44% of working Americans think an active <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/tiktok-revolution-social-media-launching-careers/">social media presence</a> is more likely to hurt their career rather than help it, and this hesitation towards social media in a professional setting isn’t a surprise. Social media behavior, whether from today or 10 years ago, can lead to repercussions in the workplace.&nbsp;



However, this hesitation isn’t felt through all age groups. As the first generation to be raised alongside social media, Gen Z workers have a more favorable view of social media: Just <a href="https://americanstaffing.net/posts/2025/07/17/social-media-presence-as-career-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">over half of individuals age 18-28</a> believe an active social media presence has helped their careers. This number dwindles through the generations, with 44% of Millennials, 28% of Generation X and just 20% of Baby Boomers believing social media can help their careers.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-not-a-myth-employers-look-at-your-social-media">It’s not a myth—employers look at your social media</h2>



Social networking sites have become a must-view for employers, with <a href="https://resources.careerbuilder.com/employer-blog/70-of-employers-use-social-networking-sites-to-research-candidates-during-hiring-process" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">70% of employers</a> using social media to help research candidates during the hiring process. Of the employers that use these platforms, 57% reported finding content that led to them not hiring an applicant.



The social media sweeps don’t stop once a candidate is hired. <a href="https://resources.careerbuilder.com/employer-blog/70-of-employers-use-social-networking-sites-to-research-candidates-during-hiring-process" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nearly half</a> of employers report using social media to research current employees, and approximately a third of employers found content online that led them to reprimand or fire an employee.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-basic-dos-and-don-ts-for-maintaining-a-professional-online-presence">Some basic dos and don'ts for maintaining a professional online presence</h2>



The thought of employers scrolling social media looking for reasons to pass on a candidate can feel daunting, but the biggest red flags are the easiest to avoid. No matter what field you’re in, no employer wants to see a candidate posting <a href="https://www.aarp.org/personal-technology/social-media-mistakes-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offensive content or badmouthing previous jobs</a>. Avoiding offensive content should be simple. Don’t post any photos, comments or captions with offensive language or commentary about a person’s gender, religion or race.&nbsp;



Jason Thatcher, professor of organizational leadership and information analytics at the Leeds School of Business, conducted research to see if polarizing political topics also affected the job search process. He found divisive political stances may indicate to an employer that the candidate could be difficult to work with. If your personal social media is filled with politics, <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/10/22/posting-about-politics-it-may-cost-you-job" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thatcher recommends</a> making your accounts private.







Candidates that consistently post complaints about their previous workplaces, bosses, coworkers or customer interactions could also be creating social media presences that work against them. While this could seem like a harmless way to blow off steam, posts like this can reflect poorly on the company you work for, and in turn create issues at your current job or in future job searches.&nbsp;



So, how can employees make social media work for them? <a href="https://news.linkedin.com/about-us#Statistics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> has over 1 billion users worldwide, and is one of the easier platforms to start building your <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-optimize-your-linkedin-profile/">professional presence</a>. Many users post about current work projects, highlight a new skill they’ve learned, or feature other work-centered content.&nbsp;



If you would like to step beyond LinkedIn, consider creating a personal brand through Instagram, Facebook or X. If you’re creating a professional social media account, <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-manage-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indeed</a> recommends devising a plan to create and post cohesive content and setting aside time to engage with other accounts.&nbsp;



Curating your social media presence thoughtfully could mean the difference between employment and unemployment. Always be cautious and aware of how your social media behaviors may reflect on you personally or professionally. When in doubt, remember to avoid controversial topics and ask yourself whether what you're posting, commenting on or liking will serve you or others.



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Many professionals view being active on social media as a career risk. Discover what employers flag and how to build a professional online presence.

Many professionals see active social media as a career risk. Discover what employers flag and how to build a professional online presence. | SUCCESS

Nearly Half of Working Americans View an Active Social Media Presence as a Career Risk

Survey Finds Social Media Presence Could Hurt Your Career | SUCCESS

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Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

ClassPass, a fitness subscription service that offers users easy access to classes and wellness experiences, is stepping outside of the gym. A <a href="https://www.wework.com/newsroom/classpass-and-wework-debut-new-global-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnership</a> announcement from WeWork on Tuesday shared that ClassPass users will now be able to book flexible workspaces across 15 cities worldwide.&nbsp;



Through the new partnership, over 100 WeWork spaces in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, London, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and Dublin will be available to users. While locations through ClassPass are currently limited to 15 cities, they expect to expand to new cities in the future.







The partnership comes after a <a href="https://classpass.com/blog/classpass-and-wework-debut-new-global-partnership-press-release/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">44% increase</a> in ClassPass reservations over the past year. Fritz Lanman, the CEO of Playlist, ClassPass’s parent company, attributes this increase to users’ search for community.  



“We’re providing our users with the flexibility to seamlessly <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindfulness-at-work/">integrate work and wellness</a>, whether they’re traveling, working remotely or simply needing a change in environment during their week,” Lanman said.&nbsp;



Now with the addition of workspaces, users’ communities can extend beyond workout classes or spa days. WeWork offers <a href="https://www.wework.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three types of workspaces</a>: a pay-as-you-go daily workspace, a coworking membership for access to hundreds of coworking spaces, or private office spaces.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The pay-as-you-go workspaces include coworking spaces, offices or meeting rooms, making this a great option for remote or hybrid workers looking to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/building-relationships-with-coworkers-virtually/">connect with co-workers</a> in person.&nbsp;



While each WeWork location varies, amenities can include lounges, high-speed Wi-Fi, phone booths, full-service kitchens, unlimited coffee and “hot” desks, where desks are available to any worker rather than assigned. For more in-person connections, there’s also the opportunity for social and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/networking-events/">networking events</a> through WeWork.



Whether WeWork is used to reserve a desk for a day or plan monthly meetings, each location includes on-site support from a <a href="https://www.wework.com/ideas/community-stories/employee-spotlight/the-community-teams-at-the-heart-of-every-wework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WeWork community team</a> to help maintain the coworking space and assist with any issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-get-started">How to get started</h2>



ClassPass operates on a monthly credit system, meaning that each class or workspace is a certain number of credits rather than a dollar amount.&nbsp;



To get started with ClassPass, users will need to register for a <a href="https://classpass.com/plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monthly credit plan</a>. The exact cost and number of credits available vary based on location, but ClassPass tends to offer six main tiers. Generally, the plans range from eight credits to over 100 credits a month. 



Similar to the membership options, the credit cost for each fitness class or workspace <a href="https://help.classpass.com/hc/en-us/articles/204335629-What-is-ClassPass" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">will vary</a> based on the business, location and availability. If all credits aren’t used by the end of a month, users can have the credits roll over to the next month as long as they have already bought credits for the new month. For those looking to test out what ClassPass has to offer, the service offers a <a href="https://classpass.com/member-signup/getclasspass" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-week free trial</a> with 43 credits.



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ClassPass now offers 100+ WeWork spaces in 15 global cities. Sign up, earn credits and book flexible workspaces with your wellness plan.

ClassPass now offers 100+ WeWork spaces in 15 global cities. Sign up, earn credits and book flexible workspaces with your wellness plan. | SUCCESS

ClassPass Partners with WeWork to Connect Work and Wellness

ClassPass & WeWork: 100+ Workspaces in 15 Cities | SUCCESS

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Engineer calling colleagues after finding error in code while doing checkup on server room used for AI workloads

AI use is growing throughout all industries, with <a href="https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-many-companies-use-ai#:~:text=Out%20of%20359%20million%20companies,AI%20tools%20for%20everyday%20tasks." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">78%</a> of companies worldwide <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/ai-tools-for-small-business-growth/">utilizing artificial intelligence</a>. Despite companies’ quick adoption of AI, <a href="https://5214163.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5214163/AI%20Risk%20%26%20Readiness%20in%20the%20Enterprise-%202025%20Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent research</a> from BigID, an AI security and data privacy platform, found that most companies’ security measures aren’t up to par for the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/equitable-ai-for-all/">risks AI brings</a>.&nbsp;



Published on Wednesday, BigID surveyed 233 compliance, security and data leaders to find that AI adoption is outpacing security readiness, with only 6% of organizations implementing advanced AI security strategies.&nbsp;



Ranking as the <a href="https://5214163.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5214163/AI%20Risk%20%26%20Readiness%20in%20the%20Enterprise-%202025%20Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top concerns</a> for companies are AI-powered data leaks, shadow AI and compliance with AI regulations.&nbsp;







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-69-5-of-organizations-identify-ai-powered-data-leaks-as-their-primary-concern">69.5% of organizations identify AI-powered data leaks as their primary concern</h2>



As the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/new-google-ai-tool-career-dreamer/">uses of AI expand</a>, so does the potential for cyberattacks. Increasing amounts of data, from financial records to customer details, and security gaps can make <a href="https://bigid.com/blog/ai-data-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI systems tempting targets</a> for cybercriminals. The possible consequences due to AI-powered data leaks are widespread, from financial loss to private information breaches, yet according to BigID’s report, nearly half of organizations have no AI-specific security controls.



To help prevent data leaks, BigID recommends regular monitoring of AI systems, as well as who has access to them. Systematic checks for any unusual activity along with implementation of authentication and access controls can help keep AI systems running as designed.&nbsp;



For an added layer of security, organizations can consider changes for the actual data used in AI. Personal identifiers can be taken out of data or replaced with pseudonyms to keep information private, or <a href="https://bigid.com/blog/ai-data-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">synthetic data generation</a>, creating a fake data set that appears exactly like the original, can be used to train AI while keeping an organization’s data safe. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearly-half-of-surveyed-organizations-worry-about-shadow-ai">Nearly half of surveyed organizations worry about shadow AI</h2>



<a href="https://5214163.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5214163/whitepapers-and-data-sheets/Unmasking-Shadow-AI-Whitepaper.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shadow AI</a> is the unmonitored use of AI tools from employees or external vendors. Most often, shadow AI is seen in employee use of generative AI, including commonly used platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini. As <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/i-tested-these-ai-tools-for-my-resume-heres-what-i-found/">AI tools</a> become more accessible, the risk for shadow AI grows, with a <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/annual-wti-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 study</a> from LinkedIn and Microsoft showing 75% of knowledge workers use generative AI in their jobs. Unauthorized use of AI tools can lead to data leaks, increased difficulty in regulation compliance and bias or ethical issues. 



The best defense against shadow AI starts with education. Creating <a href="https://bigid.com/blog/what-is-shadow-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clear policies and procedures</a> for AI usage throughout a company, along with regular employee training, can help to protect against shadow AI. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-80-of-organizations-are-not-ready-or-are-unsure-on-how-to-meet-ai-regulations">80% of organizations are not ready or are unsure on how to meet AI regulations</h2>



As the uses for AI have grown, so have mandated regulations. Most notably, the <a href="https://artificialintelligenceact.eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU AI Act</a> and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are the leading European regulations for AI tools and data policies. 



While there are no explicit AI regulations for the U.S. at this time, BigID recommends companies comply with the EU AI Act, enact auditability for AI systems and begin to document decisions made by AI to prepare for more regulations around AI usage. 



As the potential of AI evolves, more companies are prioritizing digital help over <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/business-insider-layoffs/">human employees</a>. Before your company jumps on the bandwagon, make sure to take the proper steps to safeguard against the new risks AI brings. 



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AI use is growing fast, but security isn’t keeping up. Learn what companies miss when it comes to protecting data and managing AI tools.

AI use is growing fast, but security isn’t keeping up. Learn what companies miss when it comes to protecting data and managing AI tools. | SUCCESS

New Study Shows Companies Aren’t Prepared for AI Security Risks

Most Companies Aren’t Ready for AI Security Risks | SUCCESS

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Allie Tribe

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