Key Takeaways

  • RAISE US, a bipartisan initiative, launched a $500 million effort to support worker adaptation to AI-driven labor shifts.
  • The program is backed by donors including Anthropic and OpenAI and aims to reach a $1 billion funding goal.
  • Former governors Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb are leading the national push for large-scale reskilling over the next three years.

RAISE US has launched a $500 million initiative designed to help American workers manage the rapid changes brought by artificial intelligence. The effort, detailed in a report by Politico, reflects a rare level of bipartisan collaboration. Organizers expect to distribute the funds over a three-year period and will continue fundraising toward a $1 billion goal.

Led by two former governors, Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Eric Holcomb, the initiative secured support from AI companies including Anthropic and OpenAI. This mix of public-sector leadership and private-sector capital reflects a broader trend where organizations developing AI technologies actively participate in workforce transition efforts. The rapid pace of technology adoption has outstripped many traditional training systems, making private-sector involvement a practical necessity.

According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, U.S. employers are projected to need to reskill about 59% of their workers by 2030. The same report notes that 44% of workers' skills may be disrupted within just five years. This turbulence creates pressure on executives and raises questions about what retraining at scale looks like, as organizations must maintain continuity while preparing for structural changes.

RAISE US addresses these structural challenges by distributing funds over a three-year period. The program focuses on training pathways, industry partnerships, and local ecosystems that can pivot more quickly than federal systems typically allow. Engaging workforce intermediaries enables small and midsize businesses to participate through local programs, rather than building AI readiness strategies from scratch.

Data from IBM's Global CEO Study 2024 shows that 62% of CEOs believe generative AI will significantly alter how their companies create and deliver value. As workflows, customer engagement, and product development shift, training transitions into a strategic investment. In parallel, McKinsey's State of AI 2024 study reported that 76% of business leaders say their organizations already use generative AI in at least one business function, accelerating the need for proactive workforce planning.

Public-sector guidance shapes the non-economic aspects of this transition. The NIST AI Risk Management Framework and the White House Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights influence how organizations approach transparent systems, responsible deployment, and employee impact. RAISE US aligns with this policy environment, supporting training that incorporates risk management and responsible use rather than limiting reskilling solely to technical skills.

Raimondo and Holcomb use their public-sector credibility to connect state-level needs to national-level funding. While states have experimented with AI workforce strategies, budgets often limit execution. This $500 million infusion of private funding provides the necessary capital to test scalable approaches, from micro-credential programs to employer coalitions focused on industries like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

Corporate donors like Anthropic and OpenAI have a vested incentive to keep workforce transition programs healthy. While their initial involvement is established, maintaining momentum over the three-year funding period requires consistent corporate attention. Sustained adoption of these emerging technologies often depends directly on whether client organizations employ a workforce equipped to implement them responsibly.

RAISE US functions as an accelerator for existing economic development programs rather than a replacement. Community colleges, trade groups, and regional training centers are positioned as likely implementation partners. Many of these organizations have already built AI-focused curriculum pilots but lack the purchasing power or long-term funding to scale them statewide.

A stronger national training infrastructure reduces hiring friction for enterprise organizations. Instead of competing for a small pool of highly specialized, AI-ready workers, companies gain access to a broader talent pipeline. This expanded workforce can support system operators, domain experts using AI tools, and frontline workers whose roles require redefining, making investments in reskilling a practical alternative to the high costs of workforce turnover.

RAISE US is preparing to identify its first set of funded projects. The initiative will likely fund multiple approaches, spanning technical upskilling, cross-functional training, and community-based career pathways, to address the scale of projected labor disruption. The strategy indicates that while no single model solves national workforce transition, targeted programs create the momentum necessary for localized success.

The presence of Anthropic and OpenAI as early donors demonstrates that AI developers recognize the immediate labor impacts of their technologies. By funding national reskilling efforts, these corporations contribute directly to building the infrastructure required for the next generation of work. As the pace of AI adoption accelerates, RAISE US provides the financial backing, political alignment, and urgency required to support sustainable workforce adaptation across the public and private sectors.