Exclusive: Labor Department launches AI literacy course
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Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
The Labor Department on Tuesday will announce a free AI literacy course aimed at Americans skeptical of the technology.
Why it matters: Americans are bracing for an AI-driven economy where many jobs may look different or cease to exist, and policymakers are under pressure to show they're responding.
Driving the news: The Trump administration's latest idea is to offer Americans a seven-day course requiring about 10 minutes a day.
- The "Make America AI Ready" course covers AI's core capabilities and how to create clear prompts, among other basics, according to an announcement shared first with Axios.
- Users can enroll by texting "READY" to 20202. Phone numbers used to enroll won't be shared with third parties.
- DOL said that the course is "intentionally designed for Americans who may be a little fearful of or unsure about AI."
Context: The course mirrors the department's recently announced voluntary AI literacy framework.
Between the lines: There have been many big pronouncements about how AI will impact jobs, with some warning of mass layoffs and others promising new opportunities.
- So far, it's largely been the promise of AI — not AI itself — that has led to job loss as companies reorganize around the technology.
- Politicians are looking to to calm voter fears that their livelihoods are in jeopardy.
What they're saying: "This initiative will help demystify AI for American workers," Labor Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling said.
- "The 'Make America AI-Ready' initiative is designed to ensure every American worker has the chance to learn foundational skills so they can benefit from the opportunities that the AI economy presents," Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said.
