Over the past decade, a wave of digital transformation fundamentally changed the skills needed for nearly every occupation, from home health aides to architects. And in many cases, workers and employers weren’t ready. The rapid rise of digital tools in the workplace led to a “digital blindspot” where employers underestimated the technological impact and overlooked the importance of developing basic digital literacy skills. As a result, workers were left ill-prepared to benefit from the fruits of a digital economy, and businesses and economies missed out on the potential productivity gains that should have been realized. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence mean the country is now at risk of falling into a similar trap.
Most workers are in jobs that will be exposed to AI.
This transformation won’t be limited to the tech sector; 88 percent of workers using generative AI are in non-technical roles such as cashiers and retail associates. Just as digital literacy is now table stakes for success in a digital economy, it’s clear that the bar for AI skills and knowledge—as well as durable human skills that can be augmented by AI—will soon be raised for everyone.
Against this backdrop, it’s crucial that business leaders, policymakers, and training providers work to proactively ensure that all employees, regardless of age or career stage, are equipped with basic AI literacy. Employers, in particular, will need to lead the way in creating a workforce that can thrive in an environment being continually reshaped by this technology.
Access to AI tools and literacy has not been equitable.
While many workers are independently exploring and mastering generative AI tools like ChatGPT, self-driven experimentation is not going to solve the AI literacy challenge. Studies show that AI use is already divided by historic indicators of marginalization, like income and college attainment. When individuals are tasked with finding the time and money to invest in upskilling or reskilling, too many are left behind.
Despite the clear need, AI upskilling remains relatively uncommon. While we are seeing some progress in foundational and career-focused AI literacy training in K-12 schools and colleges, there remains a substantial gap among working adults, especially those disconnected from traditional educational systems. According to research from Multiverse, nearly half of workers say they have had no access to technical training in the last five years, let alone training specifically related to AI.
Euan Blair, Multiverse’s CEO, recently shared with me their decision to offer all apprentices — regardless of which field they’re studying— a course designed to build a working knowledge of AI: “Every worker, in every line of work, will need a working knowledge of what AI is and how to use AI-enabled tools effectively. Employers and training providers have a responsibility to ensure all workers have the skills to extract value from these powerful tools, if we want to empower both businesses and individuals in the future of work.”
There’s enormous business incentive to invest in AI literacy.
For employers, this training gap represents not only an opportunity to invest in their workers’ growth but also a strategy to maintain their company’s competitiveness in an AI world. Business leaders recognize the potential of AI to increase productivity, efficiency, and customer service, but they are often playing catch-up when it comes to implementation.
At the heart of the challenge is a shortfall of skilled workers. Demand is far outstripping supply, with the share of job descriptions mentioning AI fluency on the job platform Handshake more than tripling this year. If employers hope to cultivate an AI-proficient workforce, they must invest in AI literacy training that helps their workers better understand the technology’s purpose, inner workings, and limitations.
Companies will need to allocate the necessary paid time and opportunity for employees to engage in AI training programs. Such efforts should go beyond tool-specific training and be embedded into existing processes and on-the-job learning initiatives, such as new employee onboarding. Training should also focus on AI fluency, empowering workers to use AI in their specific roles and responsibilities. These learning opportunities should be provided to all employees—particularly low-wage hourly workers, who are often at higher risk of automation but remain shut out of many upskilling programs.
But as vital as employers are, they can’t be the only leg of the stool.
Philanthropies and policymakers have a role to play in bridging the AI literacy gap.
Initiatives like Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund and AI Essentials course, Kapor Foundation’s support for ethical and responsible AI, and Microsoft’s AI literacy investments in Wisconsin all engage with community-based organizations to expand access to AI education and skill development. Intel, meanwhile has partnered with community colleges in dozens of states as part of its AI for Workforce programs. Philanthropies can further contribute by investing in the tools and computing power needed for AI training, as well as in the development of inclusive AI literacy content that is reflective of and accessible to all learners and workers.
Similarly, federal and state policymakers can help expand access to AI literacy by following the lead of President Biden’s recent executive order and AI safety guidelines, which note that employers “should support or upskill workers during job transitions related to AI.” They should consider supporting legislation such as the bipartisan AI Literacy Act, which would codify AI literacy as a key component of digital literacy and integrate it into existing government technology initiatives. Critically, policymakers must enhance support for incumbent training funding both for workers to acquire new skills well before their jobs change and for those who have already experienced job loss.
AI is poised to dramatically alter not only the future of work but its present. By ensuring universal AI literacy, we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and guarantee that every worker has an equitable opportunity to succeed in this swiftly changing landscape. This will require a concerted effort from all sectors, but the rewards—a more inclusive, productive, and resilient workforce—will undoubtedly justify the investment.