Los Angles, USA – October 4, 2025

A significant $1 million CAD research collaboration between the University of Waterloo and tech giant Google has been announced, aimed at creating the new Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning. This groundbreaking initiative is set to redefine education and workforce preparation by rigorously examining the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education and career readiness.

Headline Points

 * $1 Million AI Chair: Google is investing $1 million CAD to establish the Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning at the University of Waterloo.

 * Inaugural Appointee: Dr. Edith Law, Professor of Computer Science and Executive Director of the new Future of Work Institute (supported by an additional $450,000 from the university), has been named the inaugural Chair.

 * Core Focus: The partnership will explore how to best prepare students for jobs that do not exist yet by focusing on the intersection of AI, technology design, and pedagogical innovation.

 * Hands-on Prototyping: A key element is the Futures Lab workshop, where interdisciplinary student teams will work with Waterloo faculty and Google mentors to co-create AI-powered learning prototypes using tools like Gemini and AI Studio.

 * Interdisciplinary Vision: The Chair is designed to connect mathematics and computer science with the social sciences and humanities, ensuring a holistic approach to understanding AI’s role in society.

Shaping the Future, Not Just Reacting

The partnership, officially announced earlier this week, leverages the University of Waterloo’s globally renowned expertise in computer science, AI research, and its co-operative education program. University President Dr. Vivek Goel stated that the collaboration embodies a vision to “connect mathematics and computer science with the social sciences and humanities, and links academia with industry and government.”

The primary goal of the collaboration is to be proactive in shaping the future of work and learning, rather than merely reacting to the rapid changes brought on by AI. The research is intended to yield transformative learning experiences that address critical questions facing educators today: How can institutions train learners for a constantly evolving, AI-integrated future?

Dr. Edith Law to Lead Research

Leading this crucial initiative is Dr. Edith Law, an expert in Human-AI interaction and the design of technology for fostering human values in learning. As the inaugural Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning, Dr. Law will work closely with researchers and students to co-create AI-facilitated learning technologies.

Dr. Law expressed her commitment, stating she is “honoured to have the opportunity to work with Google to explore how we can best design tools and environments for learning, taking full advantage of AI’s potential while being cognizant of its risks.”

Hands-On Learning and Prototyping

The core of the initiative is its emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on prototyping, mirroring the university’s co-op philosophy. Through the Futures Lab workshop, interdisciplinary student teams will collaborate directly with Google mentors. They will utilize advanced Google tools, including the Gemini and AI Studio platforms, to build AI-powered learning prototypes and tackle real-world challenges at the intersection of AI and education.

The collaboration will also support the creation of an AI literacy program. This program will extend beyond the university to help a wider community—including high school students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners—become comfortable and proficient with AI technology, fostering a wider societal understanding of its responsible use.

The findings and prototypes emerging from this multi-year research agreement are intended to be published widely, helping educators and institutions globally adopt more agile, AI-grounded approaches to preparing the next generation for the workplace of tomorrow. This partnership solidifies Waterloo’s role as a cutting-edge research hub and a strategic investment by Google into the future talent pipeline of the AI sector.