As enterprises shift from experimenting with AI agents to deploying them in production environments, Google is rolling out a structured skills program aimed at helping developers build, test, and operationalize AI agents using Google Cloud tools, specifically its Agent Development Kit (ADK).

Named the Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready (GEAR) program, the initiative packages hands-on labs, 35 free monthly recurring Google Skills credits, and badge-earning pathways into a track within the Google Developer Program.

Currently, the pathways available include “Introduction to Agents” and “Develop Agents with Agent Development Kit (ADK),” which are targeted at helping developers understand the anatomy of an agent, how they integrate with Gemini Enterprise workflows, and how to build an agent using ADK.

These pathways will enable developers learn a new set of practical engineering skills to succeed in real business environments, Google executives wrote in a blog post.

They contend that by embedding GEAR within the Google Developer Program and Google Skills, developers can experiment without cost barriers and systematically learn how to build, test, and deploy agents at scale.

This, in turn, helps enterprises accelerate the transition from isolated AI pilots to operational solutions that generate measurable value across production workflows, they wrote.

The difficulty of moving AI from pilot to production is well documented: Deloitte’s 2026 State of AI in the Enterprise report found that only about 25 % out of 3,200 respondents said that their enterprises have moved only 40 % of their AI pilots into production.

Rival hyperscalers, too, offer similar programs.

While Microsoft runs structured AI learning paths and certifications via Microsoft Learn tied to Azure AI, AWS provides hands-on labs and training through AWS Skill Builder with AI/ML and generative AI tracks.

Beyond skills development, however, these initiatives seem to be closely tied to broader platform strategies and Google’s rollout of GEAR can also be read as part of a broader strategy to cement Gemini Enterprise’s role as a competitive agent development platform at a time when hyperscalers are all vying to own the enterprise agent narrative.

Microsoft’s stack — including Azure OpenAI Service, Azure AI Studio, and Copilot Studio — has been actively positioning itself as an agent orchestration and workflow automation hub.

Similarly, AWS is pushing Bedrock Agents as part of its foundation model ecosystem.

Others, such as Salesforce and OpenAI, are also in on the act. While Salesforce markets its Agentforce suite embedded in CRM workflows, OpenAI’s Assistants API is being positioned as a flexible agent layer.