Toledo AI Week launches free AI training and certification for Ohioans

Toledo AI Week opened Nov. 10 with free, hands-on AI training at Bowling Green State University and events in Toledo and at the University of Toledo through Nov. 12. The program aims to help Ohio workers, students and job seekers capture a growing wage premium tied to AI skills while expanding access to AI Ready Ohio certifications.

Why it matters: - AI skills are increasingly tied to higher pay and faster job growth, making training access a workforce issue for Ohio workers, students and job seekers. - Great Lakes AI Week is designed to close a gap between widespread AI use on the job and limited employer-provided training. - The event aims to help 1,000+ Ohioans earn AI Ready Ohio credit this week.

What happened: - Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz proclaimed this week "Toledo AI Week" for the second consecutive year. - Great Lakes AI Week opened Nov. 10 at Bowling Green State University and runs through Nov. 12. - The event offers free, hands-on AI training and certification across Northwest Ohio. - Organizers said the week is produced by the Enterprise Technology Association, with JobsOhio as Headline Partner and Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo as host partners. - More than 120 speakers, university presidents, employers and community leaders are taking part.

The details: - PwC's 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer says jobs requiring AI skills advertise an average 62% wage premium and are growing almost eight times faster than the overall job market. - A 2026 Study.com survey found 89% of workers say they already use AI on the job, but only about one in three have received AI training from their employer. - Attendees can earn credit toward AI Ready Ohio certificates by participating in workshops each day. - The free certificate track includes AI Explorer, a 2-credit-hour foundation in AI literacy, prompting and responsible use. - AI Empowered Professional is a 4-credit-hour certificate focused on applying AI in daily work across operations, marketing, engineering, finance and HR. - AI Empowered Leader is an 8-credit-hour certificate focused on strategy and governance for people leading AI adoption. - After the event, Ohioans can continue with free online courses at AI Ready Ohio. - Organizers expect next year's program to expand with certifications focused on tool-based, role-based and industry-based applied learning. - Great Lakes AI Week 2026 is supported by JobsOhio, Huntington, The Andersons, BGSU, UT, Nexigen, Big Kitty Labs, Actual Reality Technologies, EmpoweredAI, FBT Gibbons and SSOE, along with community partners and sponsors statewide.

Between the lines: - Northwest Ohio is where AI Ready Ohio began, making Toledo and Bowling Green a symbolic home base for the statewide effort. - AI Ready Ohio launched as a pilot at Great Lakes AI Week 2025 and has since expanded to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and online. - Thousands of Ohioans have earned AI credentials through the program. - The strong mix of employers, university leaders and public officials suggests the event is as much about regional economic development as it is about training.

What's next: - Tuesday's Great Lakes AI Leadership Summit at BGSU focuses on managers and leaders guiding AI adoption. - Wednesday's AI Week Community Day in downtown Toledo is aimed at residents, job seekers, students and small business owners, with both virtual and in-person sessions. - Thursday's AI for Business Summit at The University of Toledo will spotlight AI use in defense, engineering, healthcare and manufacturing. - Registration remains open at Great Lakes AI Week, with free community passes and student tickets available. - The public can save 50% on tickets with code AIReady. - Media can attend all public sessions and request credentials or interviews through Zack Huhn at zack@joineta.org.

The bottom line: - Toledo AI Week is turning local momentum into a statewide workforce push, using free training and certification to help Ohioans compete for higher-paying AI jobs.