Bridging the Digital Divide: AWS Invests $100 Million to Support Underserved Learners
Swami Sivasubramanian, Vice President, Data and AI
At its annual re:Invent 2024 event, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the launch of the “AWS Education Equity Initiative.” This $100 million initiative aims to support organizations globally in creating and delivering equitable digital learning solutions for underserved learners.
“We believe that educational opportunities should be available to everyone, and we believe our role is to invest heavily where we can and to help the ecosystem become stronger,” said Tom Berry, Senior Manager of Social Responsibility at AWS, in an interview. “We believe that all of our previous and new commitments are about democratizing access to technology for those closest to where the inequities occur” AWS is committed to expanding learning opportunities for students.
In a keynote speech at the event,AWS Vice President of Data and AI, Swami Sivasubramanian, highlighted the importance of education and the need to leverage technology for broader access. AWS already provides free cloud skills training and AI skills training to learners from diverse backgrounds, having reached over 2 million learners with free AI skills training worldwide. Driving thisgle, it aims to provide cloud skills training to 29 million people.
The new initiative addresses the gap Berry identified during training programs.
“There are people who have credible ideas for experience using technology, but lack the resources. On top of that, they may lack crucial technical advice.” Recognizing this, she articulated the program’s purpose saying, “Through this program, AWS aims to enable organsations, notably non-profits with solutions that help them achieve their missions.
The program offers cloud credits to eligible organizations, including non-profits, education-focused organizations, and governments working to expand access to disadvantaged learning for underserved learners.
Organizations can leverage these credits to build AI assistants, adapt learning platforms for diverse needs, develop student platforms, educational apps, and more. In addition to the funding, AWS is dedicated to providing technical guidance.
Bridging the educational gap with AI
AWS currently partners with over 50 organizations in 10 countries to facilitate access to digital learning solutions in diverse communities. For example, AWS collaborated with Code.org, an organization focused on computer science and AI education for students across grade levels. This collaboration led to the development of an AI assistant for teachers, built on Amazon Bedrock. This platform empowers developers to build generative AI applications using AWS cloud credits. The
What specific impact does AWS hope to achieve with this initiative?
## Bridging the Digital Divide: AWS Invests $100 Million to Support Underserved Learners
**[Intro Music]**
**Host:** Welcome back to Tech Talk! Today we’re discussing a significant initiative from Amazon Web Services aimed at tackling a crucial global issue: the digital divide in education. We’re joined by Swami Sivasubramanian, Vice President of Data and AI at AWS, to shed light on this ambitious program. Swami, welcome to the show!
**Swami Sivasubramanian:** Thanks for having me!
**Host:** So, AWS recently announced the “AWS Education Equity Initiative,” pledging $100 million over five years. Can you tell us more about this initiative and its goals?
**Swami Sivasubramanian:** Absolutely! At AWS, we believe everyone deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or location. This initiative is designed to empower organizations worldwide to create and deliver equitable digital learning solutions for underserved learners.
We want to ensure that all students have the tools and resources they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
**Host:** That’s an incredibly important mission. Can you elaborate on how this $100 million investment will be utilized?
**Swami Sivasubramanian:** The funding will be allocated through various channels, including cloud credits for eligible educational institutions and non-profits, as well as grants to support the development of innovative educational programs. We’re also fostering collaborations with organizations working on the ground to bridge the digital divide [[1](https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/education/3182475-aws-pledges-100-million-in-cloud-credits-for-global-educational-advancement)].
**Host:** This isn’t AWS’s first foray into educational support, is it?
**Swami Sivasubramanian:** Correct. We’ve long been committed to expanding learning opportunities. We offer free cloud skills training and AI skills training to learners from diverse backgrounds, and have already reached over 2 million individuals globally [[1](https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/education/3182475-aws-pledges-100-million-in-cloud-credits-for-global-educational-advancement)]. This new initiative builds upon that foundation and significantly scales our impact.
**Host:** This initiative seems to be making a real difference. What kind of impact are you hoping to see?
**Swami Sivasubramanian:**
We envision a future where every student, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the education they need to succeed. We believe this initiative will help unlock the potential of millions of learners worldwide and build a more equitable and inclusive future.
**Host:** It’s inspiring to see such a commitment to education. Thank you, Swami, for sharing your insights with us today.
**Swami Sivasubramanian:** My pleasure!
**[Outro Music]**
