Google offers free year of “AI Pro” to college students, adds Guided Learning and $1B U.S. education push

The Big Picture

As millions of students prepare for the new academic year, Google is launching a global education push centered around its most advanced AI tools. The offer includes a free one-year subscription to Google AI Pro for eligible college students across five countries, along with a new “Guided Learning” feature that helps learners develop critical thinking through step-by-step support. The broader initiative includes a $1 billion commitment to U.S. higher education—supporting AI literacy, research, and career training, according to Google.

What We Know

Free AI Pro access. Starting immediately, students in the U.S., Japan, Brazil, South Korea, and Indonesia can enroll in Google’s 12-month AI Pro trial. The plan includes access to Gemini 2.5 Pro for research and writing help, NotebookLM for audio/video summarizing, Veo 3 for short video generation, and 2TB of storage across Google Drive and Gmail. Students must be 18 or older and enrolled at eligible institutions. The offer ends October 6, 2025.

New learning approach. With “Guided Learning,” Google is shifting away from answer-first AI responses toward a model that encourages active learning. Instead of just solving a problem, Gemini now guides students with questions, outlines, and structured reasoning prompts to build subject mastery.

U.S. education funding. Google is investing $1 billion over the next three years to bolster AI training in American colleges. That includes the new AI for Education Accelerator and expanded access to Google Career Certificates. Over 100 universities—including the University of Michigan, Ohio State, and the University of Virginia—are already participating.

What They’re Saying

“Bringing the best AI tools to college students will open up new worlds for them,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. He emphasized that access to technology during grad school shaped his own future and that he hopes to “unlock the same potential” for students today.

The education team at Google added that Guided Learning was designed in collaboration with teachers, students, and cognitive scientists to focus on long-term understanding, not just quick answers.

What’s Next

Eligible students have until October 6 to claim the free AI Pro plan. Google says more countries will be added “in the coming weeks.” Faculty will also gain tools to integrate Gemini into their classroom workflows, with easy sharing features for learning modules and quizzes.

The Bottom Line

Google is betting that giving students early, free access to powerful AI tools—backed by solid educational design—will spark innovation and bridge digital skill gaps. The rollout comes as schools and employers alike grapple with how AI reshapes learning and work.

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