White House releases AI Action Plan

The White House recently released its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan to achieve the policy objectives outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.” The executive order directed the creation of an AI Action Plan to provide a framework for the sustainment and growth of America’s AI ecosystem.

The plan is a set of policy recommendations outlined in three core pillars:

1. Accelerate AI Innovation
2. Build AI Infrastructure
3. Lead in International AI Diplomacy and Security

The plan lays out steps to facilitate the expansion of AI infrastructure, increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and enhance the nation’s cybersecurity. To support these goals, the plan is also strategically focused on ensuring the education and workforce development systems collaborate to nurture a future workforce that is literate and skilled in AI. This has important implications for afterschool, as afterschool programs engaging youth in STEM are already vital players in preparing AI-literate citizens.

In order to accelerate AI innovation and build AI infrastructure, the plan proposes a set of policies to expand AI literacy and skill growth among both the current and future American workforce. To enable this, the plan recommends that the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Education (ED), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Commerce (DOC) each prioritize AI skill development as a core objective of education and workforce funding streams, including in “career and technical education (CTE), workforce training, apprenticeships, and other federally supported skills initiatives.”

The plan also recommends the establishment of an AI Workforce Research Hub, led by the DOL, which would evaluate the impact of AI on the labor market through the production of analyses and the conduction of scenario planning. The Research Hub would then generate insights that inform the direction of the nation’s workforce and education policy.

In addition to the Research Hub, the plan recommends the creation of a national initiative meant to identify high-priority occupations essential to the buildout of AI-related infrastructure. To support these AI workforce needs, the DOL, ED, and NSF will partner with education and workforce systems to provide middle and high school students with opportunities to learn about these high-priority career paths, such as through pre-apprenticeship programs. More specifically, the plan states, “These efforts should focus on creating awareness and excitement about these jobs, aligning with local employer needs, and providing on-ramps into high-quality training and Registered Apprenticeship programs.” To build momentum behind connecting education to key industry workforce needs, the DOL, DOC, and ED recently co-released a document detailing strategies to fulfill the nation’s workforce vision, titled “America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age.” You can learn more about the Talent Strategy and its implications for K-12 STEM education and afterschool.

Since afterschool programs are integral to STEM learning, and many are already engaging young people in AI, afterschool programs should be seen as crucial partners to the successful implementation of the AI Action Plan. The afterschool field will need to remain aware of any new federal grant opportunities that are created from the establishment of this plan, as afterschool programs must be key partners in building AI career awareness amongst youth and in training the next generation of a thoughtful, responsible AI workforce.

• In fact, the NSF just recently announced new funding opportunities to advance AI education, which afterschool programs can apply for individually or in partnership with other community partners.
   
• Don’t forget to check out the NSF STEM K-12 Program, which funds innovative, multidisciplinary projects that inform education practices, including with regard to AI, in both the classroom and afterschool learning environments.

As you can see, there is an enormous amount of momentum behind, and investment in, AI these days. Earlier this year, the President signed an executive order focused on expanding AI in education. And, in addition to the AI Action Plan, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development National Coordination Office recently solicited comments on the forthcoming updates to the National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan. And, the Department of Education requested public comment on its proposed priority for advancing AI in education. The Afterschool STEM Hub submitted comments in response to both of these requests, highlighting the need to ensure afterschool programs and afterschool educators are included as eligible partners and grant recipients.

• Read our comments in response to the National AI R&D Strategic Plan.
   
• Read our comments in response to ED’s Priority on Advancing AI in Education.

We will continue to urge the administration to direct all the relevant agencies to include afterschool and other informal learning environments in their AI education initiatives. Afterschool programs must be viewed as essential partners with adequate resources devoted to both programs and afterschool educator professional development if any of these plans are to succeed.