To help advance its 10-year North Star goal to help 75 million people facing systemic barriers advance through the workforce, national nonprofit Jobs for the Future has launched its new Center for Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Work. JFF plans for the center to initially focus on cross-sector convenings, research, and insights to identify best practices for leveraging AI.

"No industry will be untouched by AI," explains Howard Boville, JFF board member and head of IBM Cloud Platform. "Its potential is limitless and its power still to be seen, so it's essential for those of us who are committed to harnessing AI for good to ensure it is used ethically."

A JFF survey reports that most workers believe they need to upskill due to the emergence of AI. External surveys echo those employee concerns. According to the Boston Consulting Group's 2023 AI at Work survey, employees know they'll need to train in this new area, but few have received any such preparation. Of the almost 13,000 survey respondents, only 14 percent say they have received AI training. The center will work to eliminate those issues by shaping policy around AI to empower workers and employees in that area.

"While we have yet to realize the full impact of AI on the workforce, we must be proactive in harnessing its power and maximizing its potential to help people advance economically," says JFF President and CEO Maria Flynn. "JFF's Center for Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Work will catalyze these efforts and ensure that workers of all backgrounds and experiences as well as businesses thrive in this rapidly emerging landscape."