Bipartisan Nonprofit Launches With Over $500 Million to Address AI-Driven Job Displacement

A new bipartisan nonprofit, RAISE US, has launched with more than $500 million to help American workers navigate potential job losses and economic shifts driven by artificial intelligence. The organization intends to focus on developing new forms of education and training, partnering with states and major employers to ensure the nation can benefit from AI-driven economic gains without widespread worker disruption.

Founded by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, RAISE US seeks to pilot programs and offer incentives for workers to transition into new careers in an economy facing significant automation. Raimondo expressed concern that substantial unemployment due to AI could destabilize the country and its democracy, emphasizing the need for action to maintain global leadership in AI.

The nonprofit is initiating partnerships with officials in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah, as well as several large companies and charitable organizations. These collaborations are designed to create policies that better align educational institutions with employer needs, aiming to replace potential layoffs with opportunities for higher-paying jobs. RAISE US is also exploring tax and incentive changes to support continued employment.

Anchor partners for the initiative include Amazon, Microsoft, Anthropic, the OpenAI Foundation, and Bank of America. Other participating employers include UPS, General Motors, Eli Lilly, Mastercard, AMD, Cisco, and IBM. Gina Raimondo will serve as the nonprofit's CEO, and its advisory board features notable figures such as former House Speaker Paul Ryan, investor Stephen Schwarzman, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, and economists David Autor, Erik Brynjolfsson, and Raj Chetty.

Estimates from consulting groups suggest a significant portion of the U.S. workforce could be impacted by AI in the coming years. A Boston Consulting Group analysis projected that roughly half of all U.S. jobs may be reshaped, with up to 25 million jobs potentially eliminated within five years. Goldman Sachs separately estimated that a quarter of U.S. work hours could be automated by AI.

Experts in artificial intelligence have noted that current social safety nets, designed for a different era, may be ill-equipped for the speed and scale of AI-driven transformations. While some economists believe the wealth generated by AI could create demand for new types of jobs, the skills required may shift beyond traditional trades, emphasizing qualities like curiosity and intellectual flexibility.

Raimondo indicated that RAISE US plans to utilize states as testing grounds for policy ideas, which could later inform federal action. She stated a lack of immediate hope for significant congressional action on the issue and asserted that the organization cannot afford to wait, believing that successful state-level initiatives will likely be considered by the federal government in the future.