The U.S. Department of Labor announced on March 24 the launch of "Make America AI-Ready," a free artificial intelligence literacy course designed to help American workers learn foundational AI skills by texting "READY" to 20202.
The initiative is part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to equip workers with skills needed in an AI-driven economy, as outlined in America’s Talent Strategy and the White House’s AI Action Plan. The course delivers daily learning content and challenges via text message, allowing users to complete it in seven days with about 10 minutes of engagement per day. The text-based format aims to make the course accessible to those without laptops or reliable internet access.
Developed through a public-private partnership between the Department of Labor and education technology company Arist, which participates in the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth, the initiative seeks to advance AI education nationwide. "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," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. "Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Labor remains committed to putting American workers first by providing them with the skills they need to support themselves and their families." Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling added, "This initiative will help demystify AI for American workers. We are seeing AI create new jobs, new levels of productivity, and new forms of entrepreneurship, and we want to make sure all Americans have the skills to share in that prosperity."
The course covers five areas from the department's recently released AI Literacy Framework: understanding core concepts and limitations; exploring uses and tools; directing effective prompts; evaluating outputs for accuracy; and using AI responsibly with attention to ethics and security.
In addition, on August 24, 2022, the Department of Labor announced $3.4 million in Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants administered by its Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration. Phoenix, Arizona was awarded $542,358 through the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
Phone numbers used for enrollment are only used for delivering course content and will not be shared or sold for marketing purposes. More information about Make America AI-Ready is available according to the official roster page.
