Google.org has provided more than $2.7 million to Talents For Tech to run a regional AI upskilling programme across Central and Eastern Europe, targeting workers in administrative, clerical, and cognitive roles where AI-driven displacement risk is highest.
The funding, channelled through Google.org's AI Works for Europe initiative and the AI Opportunity Fund, will support training for at least 11,000 people across seven countries: Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Poland. The programme runs until January 2028, delivered through Coursera's platform with local partner organisations handling learner recruitment and outreach in each market.
Talents For Tech describes the target demographic as workers in roles such as customer service, call centre operations, sales support, basic finance and accounting, logistics coordination, and junior marketing — positions where generative AI is already reshaping workflows and where access to practical training is most uneven.
\"This initiative is not only about learning new tools. It is about helping people stay competitive, improving economic resilience, and making sure the benefits of AI are shared across the region,\" said Jarune Preiksaite, CEO of Talents For Tech. \"At the moment, too many people risk being left behind simply because they have not had the opportunity to learn. With Google.org's support, we can now open practical and accessible pathways for thousands of people across Central and Eastern Europe to build confidence with AI and use it in their careers.\"
The programme draws on IPSOS research cited in the announcement that identifies the skills needed to effectively use AI as extending well beyond prompt writing — covering data analysis, cybersecurity awareness, change management, and responsible AI practice. A Digital Coalition report on AI challenges in CEE is also cited, pointing to competence gaps as a primary barrier to enterprise AI adoption across the region.
For enterprise technology teams, the initiative signals growing structured supply of AI-literate workers in CEE markets — a region where labour cost advantages and growing technical talent pools are already attracting significant cloud and technology investment. Generative AI is projected to add €90–100 billion annually to CEE GDP if adoption reaches scale. Closing the training gap at the worker level is a prerequisite.
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