Verizon Launches $70M AI Upskilling

Verizon is charging ahead with a $70 million push to upskill Americans in AI, rolling out a national training portal with heavyweights like IBM, Google, and OpenAI. The initiative blends new money with existing reskilling funds, aiming to equip both displaced workers as Verizon retires aging copper landlines and small businesses eyeing AI for future growth. The stakes? Billions in network upgrades, regulatory scrutiny, and a bid to show Verizon’s not just a tech giant but a job creator — yet real impact hinges on whether these programs actually deliver new skills and upgraded accounts, or simply become expensive PR.

But here’s the catch: Verizon’s plan to pull the plug on old copper service in several states could leave rural communities in the lurch if wireless and fiber alternatives fall short, especially during outages. Regulators from New York to Virginia are pressing for tougher guarantees, while delays could force Verizon to shoulder costly legacy maintenance for years — eating into the capital they want to pour into faster 5G and fiber. Rival cable and wireless providers are watching closely, ready to pounce if Verizon stumbles and rural frustration boils over.

Based on reporting and executive insights from Verizon CEO Dan Schulman, community partners like Goodwill, and frontline state regulators.

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