WASHINGTON — OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon and Microsoft have joined a new effort aimed at advancing artificial intelligence safety standards and workforce preparedness, with the companies participating as anchor partners in the nonprofit initiative Raise US, organizers announced this week. The initiative is intended to help U.S. states prepare workers for changes brought by AI while promoting responsible adoption of the technology, according to the organization.
Raise US said it plans to work with state governments to develop programs addressing the economic and workplace effects of artificial intelligence. The organization is led by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, who said the initiative seeks to combine public- and private-sector expertise as AI deployment accelerates.
According to the organizers, the nonprofit has secured about half of its long-term fundraising goal and intends to pilot programs in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland and Utah before expanding to other states. Planned projects include AI-supported career navigation tools and other workforce development programs designed to help employees adapt to changing job requirements.
"America needs a people strategy to match its AI strategy," Raimondo said in announcing the initiative, describing workforce preparation as a critical element of maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
The announcement comes as governments and technology companies continue discussions over AI governance and safety. Earlier this year, OpenAI and Anthropic were already participating in voluntary U.S. government reviews of advanced AI models, while Microsoft, Google and xAI later agreed to provide early access to new models for security testing by the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation, according to the Commerce Department. Those reviews focus on risks including cyberattacks, misuse involving chemical or biological threats, and other national security concerns.
International discussions on AI standards have also intensified. At the Group of Seven summit earlier this month, leaders pledged closer cooperation on the opportunities and risks posed by frontier AI systems and said officials would continue work on issues including cybersecurity, productivity and financial stability.
Raise US said its advisory group includes representatives from business, philanthropy and organized labor. Organizers said the nonprofit will begin working with its initial state partners in the coming months, while additional details on future programs and funding are expected to be announced as the initiative expands.
