Key facts
- OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, and Microsoft are backing a new nonprofit called RAISE US.
- RAISE US aims to help American workers transition through AI-driven job market changes.
- The initiative has already raised over $500 million, with a goal of $1 billion.
- Gina Raimondo, former US commerce secretary, is leading RAISE US.
- The nonprofit will collaborate with state governors and employers on pilot programs.
- RAISE US plans to explore solutions such as wage insurance and short-time compensation.
Major technology companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, and Microsoft, are collaborating on a new initiative to support American workers through the economic shifts brought about by artificial intelligence. The nonprofit organization, named RAISE US, has already secured over $500 million in funding, with a goal of reaching $1 billion in multi-year commitments.
Led by former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, RAISE US aims to provide a "people strategy" for the AI era, ensuring that advancements in AI do not leave a significant portion of the American workforce behind. The initiative intends to work with state governors and employers to pilot programs focused on retraining and supporting workers.
Raimondo emphasized that RAISE US is not intended to be another job-training program, as many companies already offer such initiatives. Instead, it will focus on innovative solutions like wage insurance for workers taking lower-paying jobs and short-time compensation to retain employment during transitions. The organization will also establish an internal policy lab, funded separately from corporate donations, to explore broader solutions.
The launch comes amid growing anxiety about AI's potential impact on the job market, with estimates of job displacement varying widely. While some tech leaders have moderated earlier predictions of mass white-collar job losses, concerns persist, particularly as some companies have cited AI in recent layoffs. RAISE US seeks to address this nervousness by providing a privately funded coalition effort where industry competitors are pooling resources for the national good.
The strategy will involve working with governors in states like Utah, Arkansas, Maryland, and Connecticut, leveraging state control over community colleges and business incentives. Pilot programs include an AI-powered career navigation platform in Arkansas and expanding a "service year" initiative in Maryland for recent high school graduates entering fields like healthcare. Microsoft has also indicated it is cross-training junior lawyers with AI tools as a model for internal retraining.