Secretary Gina Raimondo outlines a significant investment in AI worker retraining. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
- Gina Raimondo has launched Raise Us, a $500 million initiative to help American workers adapt to the AI economy.
- The program is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization focused on worker retraining and support, not a government program.
- Raise Us will partner with states, governors, employers, and educational institutions to create customized, short-term training programs.
- Major companies like Bank of America and AI firm Anthropic are among the initial backers, contributing funds and expertise.
- The initiative aims to address the urgent need for workforce adaptation as AI technology advances rapidly, impacting millions of jobs.
- Raise Us seeks to prove the effectiveness of retraining at scale, with the goal of influencing future national workforce policy.
The AI Revolution: Why Workers Face an Uncertain Future
Imagine a factory manager in Ohio who has spent 20 years on the same assembly line. One morning, they are told a new AI system can do their job in half the time. This scenario is becoming a reality for millions of American workers.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the workplace. It writes emails, codes software, designs products, and assists doctors with diagnoses. The pace of this change is accelerating. Some estimates suggest AI could impact as many as 300 million jobs globally within the next decade. This disruption is happening now.
The United States has invested billions in developing AI technology, funding research and encouraging Silicon Valley innovation. However, a critical gap has remained: what about the people whose jobs are displaced by these advancements?
This is the question Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is addressing. On June 25, she launched an initiative called Raise Us. The core mission is to provide American workers with the necessary training and support to adapt and succeed in an AI-driven economy.
Raise Us is an independent, nonprofit, and bipartisan organization, not a government program. Raimondo describes it as “a people strategy to match our technology strategy.” The initiative secured $500 million in funding even before its official launch.
Other nations are already prioritizing worker adaptation. Singapore invests heavily in retraining for the digital age, and Germany has a strong tradition of apprenticeships to keep its workforce current. Despite its technological prowess, America lacks a national system to help individuals transition from old jobs to new ones. Raise Us aims to fill this void.
Meet Raise Us: A $500 Million Bipartisan Initiative for Worker Retraining
Raimondo actively engaged stakeholders before launching Raise Us. She published an op-ed in The New York Times highlighting the urgency, consulted with business leaders and governors, and secured commitments from major companies prior to the public announcement.
The $500 million fund comprises contributions from tech companies, banks, and philanthropists. This capital will support pilot programs designed to meet local needs, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington.
Raimondo emphasizes the critical nature of this effort, stating, “The window is narrower than most people think.” She argues that the U.S. cannot afford to delay, as other countries are progressing rapidly.
Raise Us is designed to be bipartisan. Raimondo, a Democrat, collaborated with Republican governors and business leaders to build a broad coalition. The organization remains non-political, focusing solely on ensuring workers are not left behind by technological advancements.
The scale of the challenge is significant. Millions of Americans lose jobs annually due to automation and offshoring, a trend AI is expected to accelerate. Raimondo believes the solution lies not in halting technological progress but in preparing people for emerging job opportunities.
“We cannot just build the technology,” she stated. “We have to build the human infrastructure to go with it.”
How Raise Us Works: Collaborating with States and Employers
Raise Us will not operate training programs centrally. Instead, it will partner with state governors, local employers, and educational institutions to develop region-specific programs.
The process begins with a governor identifying industries in their state most vulnerable to AI disruption. Raise Us then convenes companies within those industries and local universities or community colleges. Together, they design short, targeted training courses to equip workers with skills for new roles.
For example, a state with a strong manufacturing base might train assembly workers to maintain and repair the robots that are taking over their previous tasks. Similarly, a state with a large call center industry could train customer service representatives for more complex roles that AI cannot handle independently.
The training is designed to be swift and practical, with many programs lasting weeks or months rather than years. Workers can often continue their current employment while learning, and some programs may offer stipends to offset lost wages.
Raise Us will also fund experiments with innovative workforce policies, such as wage insurance to supplement lower incomes or portable benefits that follow workers between jobs.
A key component of the initiative is tracking outcomes. Raise Us will measure training completion rates, job placement success, and changes in worker earnings to identify effective strategies for scaling.
Key Partners: Bank of America, Anthropic, and More
Raise Us launched with a robust group of partners, including Bank of America and Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot. These collaborators contribute not only funding but also valuable expertise and a vested interest in the initiative’s success.
Bank of America, having invested in task automation, recognizes the need for its employees to acquire new skills to work alongside AI. Its participation helps shape training relevant to future job requirements.
Anthropic, as an AI developer, understands the rapid advancement of the technology and is committed to building safe AI. Supporting Raise Us aligns with its mission to ensure a smooth transition to an AI-powered economy for workers.
Additional launch partners include major employers in retail, healthcare, and logistics. Raimondo anticipates continued growth in the coalition, with more companies joining weekly.
While the involvement of major tech firms is significant, Raise Us is designed to prioritize worker needs. The program structure is intended to ensure that training leads to genuine opportunities rather than simply supplying low-wage labor.
The Urgency of AI Disruption
Raimondo frequently uses the term “urgent” when discussing Raise Us, and for good reason. AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, transforming the economy far more rapidly than previous technologies like the internet.
Large language models demonstrate capabilities in writing, coding, and reasoning that were unimaginable just a few years ago, with future models expected to be even more powerful. Concurrently, the U.S. workforce is aging, and younger workers face a job market where skills can become obsolete quickly.
Other nations are proactively addressing these changes. Singapore’s SkillsFuture program and Germany’s dual education system offer models for worker adaptation and have shown lower rates of long-term unemployment post-automation compared to the U.S.
The U.S. lacks a comparable national system, with federal spending on worker retraining being minimal compared to other developed countries. Raise Us represents a critical effort to bridge this gap, but it operates within a tight timeframe.
“The technology is not slowing down,” Raimondo stated. “We have to speed up.”
What Raise Us Means for Workers
Raise Us is designed to assist workers concerned about the impact of AI on their careers. While not a guaranteed solution, it offers several key benefits.
The initiative can provide access to free or low-cost training for in-demand skills, connect individuals with hiring companies, offer financial support during training, and help workers identify growing and shrinking job sectors.
However, Raise Us cannot guarantee employment, as AI will inevitably eliminate some job roles. The goal is to facilitate smoother transitions rather than prevent all disruption.
Training programs will vary by location, focusing on areas like digital skills, healthcare, or advanced manufacturing. The common element is training that is concise, practical, and directly linked to available jobs.
Raimondo emphasizes that Raise Us is inclusive, serving truck drivers, retail workers, and administrative assistants-anyone whose job is being reshaped by AI.
The initiative also aims to shift the perception of careers, moving from long-term, single-employer roles to a model of continuous learning, making education affordable and accessible.
The Path Forward: From Pilot Programs to National Policy
Raise Us will begin with pilot programs in select states later this year. Raimondo’s long-term vision is for the initiative to demonstrate the effectiveness of large-scale retraining, potentially influencing federal policy.
Achieving national policy change in a divided Washington will be challenging. However, Raimondo believes the urgency of AI disruption can foster bipartisan cooperation, citing the CHIPS Act as a successful precedent for bipartisan legislative achievement.
Questions remain about the adequacy of $500 million, especially compared to the federal government’s annual spending on workforce training. Raimondo argues that Raise Us’s primary goal is to prove effective models, encouraging greater investment from governments and companies.
Concerns also exist about whether Raise Us might favor corporate interests. Raimondo asserts that the initiative is designed to prevent this, with partners required to commit to living wages and stable employment.
The ultimate success of Raise Us remains to be seen. However, the current status quo is insufficient, with many Americans being left behind by technological change. Inaction is not an option.
“We have a choice,” Raimondo concluded. “We can let AI divide us, or we can use it to lift everyone up. I choose the latter.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gina Raimondo's Raise Us initiative?
Raise Us is a $500 million, independent, nonprofit, and bipartisan initiative launched by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Its goal is to provide American workers with the training and support needed to adapt to jobs in an AI-driven economy.
How will Raise Us help workers impacted by AI?
Raise Us will partner with states and local organizations to create tailored, short-term training programs. These programs will equip workers with new skills for emerging jobs, helping them transition from roles that are being automated or changed by AI.
Who is funding Raise Us?
The $500 million in funding for Raise Us comes from a mix of sources, including contributions from major tech companies, banks like Bank of America, and philanthropists.
Is Raise Us a government program?
No, Raise Us is an independent, nonprofit organization. While it aims to influence policy, it operates separately from direct government control and funding.
What kind of training will Raise Us offer?
Training programs will vary by region and industry needs. They will be short, practical, and focused on skills that employers are actively seeking, potentially including digital skills, advanced manufacturing, or healthcare roles.
Why is this initiative considered urgent?
AI technology is advancing much faster than previous technological shifts, potentially displacing millions of jobs globally within the next decade. Other countries are already implementing robust retraining programs, and the U.S. needs to act quickly to avoid falling behind.
What companies are partnering with Raise Us?
Initial partners include Bank of America and Anthropic, an AI company. The initiative aims to bring together a broad coalition of employers across various sectors, including retail, healthcare, and logistics.
