Raise US secures major funding to address AI workforce transition

RAISE US, a nonpartisan initiative co-founded by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, has received significant new funding from major corporations including Apple, AT&T, the Bezos family, Google, and Walmart. The total funding for the four-month-old group has surpassed $735 million, marking an increase of over $200 million since its initial announcement. Raimondo emphasized the need for immediate action to address growing concerns about AI's impact on workers, stating that the group is designed to bridge the gap between public anxiety and policy response. AT&T's John Stankey highlighted the importance of investing in new skills and career pathways to prepare for the AI economy. The group, which convened over 50 leaders from various sectors at Brown University, aims to expand apprenticeship programs, retrain mid-career workers, and strengthen social safety nets for those affected by AI-driven changes. The initiative's focus on collaboration between tech, labor, education, and government reflects a broader effort by corporate America to proactively manage the economic and political shifts brought by AI. With its substantial financial backing, RAISE US is positioned to influence workforce development strategies across the United States.