Raimondo launches AI project with backing of tech giants

2026-06-25 · Source: Semafor · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Social Services & Welfare · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, medium

Summary

Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb have launched RAISE US, a new nonpartisan initiative aimed at preparing the U.S. workforce for the artificial intelligence economy. The project, backed by over \$500 million in private capital from major firms like the OpenAI Foundation, Anthropic, Bank of America, and Amazon, seeks to encourage companies to retrain and redeploy workers, support individuals in job transitions, and train people for emerging AI-related roles. RAISE US is initially partnering with Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah to pilot programs. Raimondo, who will serve as CEO, emphasizes the need for a purposeful plan for America's workforce amidst growing public anxiety over AI's impact on job security, while also engaging with the Trump administration on these efforts. She also expressed strong opposition to government ownership stakes in AI companies, advocating for private capital and enterprise.

Key takeaway

For HR professionals and executives navigating AI's impact on your workforce, proactively invest in retraining and redeployment programs. Mitigate job displacement anxieties by partnering with initiatives like RAISE US or developing internal strategies. Support employee transitions into AI-era roles. This intentional planning is crucial to maintain a skilled, adaptable workforce and address public concerns about AI's economic effects.

Key insights

A new bipartisan initiative, RAISE US, aims to proactively prepare the U.S. workforce for AI's economic shifts through private capital and state partnerships.

Principles

• Proactive workforce planning is essential for AI integration.
• Private capital drives economic dynamism, not government ownership.
• Public AI anxiety often links to job security fears.

Method

RAISE US uses private capital to incentivize companies for worker retraining and redeployment, supports individuals in job transitions, and trains for AI-era jobs, beginning with pilot programs in partner states.

In practice

• Pilot state-level workforce adaptation programs.
• Companies should invest in worker retraining.
• Support individuals during job transitions.

Topics

• AI Workforce Adaptation
• Workforce Development
• Private-Public Partnerships
• Job Retraining
• RAISE US Initiative
• AI Economic Impact

Best for: Policy Maker, Executive, HR Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Semafor.