Gina Raimondo’s new $500 million plan to help workers survive the AI economy
TL;DR
Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb are launching RAISE US, a nonprofit meant to prepare American workers for AI-driven job disruption. The group has already secured more than $500 million and is aiming for a long-term $1 billion fund. Backers include the OpenAI Foundation, Anthropic, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Bank of America, employers, philanthropies, and early state partners in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah.
Nauti's Take
RAISE US hits the right pain point: AI is not just automating tasks, it is reshaping career paths. It is smart that Raimondo is looking beyond courses toward wage insurance and unemployment rules.
Still, the PR load is heavy unless the same companies driving automation disclose real data on layoffs, redeployment, and hiring needs. Training without employer demand is workforce theater.
Briefingshow
This is bigger than another training fund: RAISE US is trying to connect reskilling, income protection, and state labor policy before AI disruption accelerates. The real test is whether tech companies help redesign work and transitions, or simply fund reputation-friendly programs that do not match actual labor-market demand.
Sources