AEI and Urban Institute Launch Bipartisan Commission on AI Workforce Shift

The Commission on AI and the Future of the American Workforce appointed 20 commissioners on September 10, 2026, to address the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the labor market. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between accelerating technological adoption and the current pace of government policy.

Co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the commission consists of 20 members from business, labor, government, and academia. Notable appointees include Jeremy Singer, President of the College Board, and Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago. The group will convene over the next year to assess how AI is altering worker skills, earnings, and benefits, with the goal of producing evidence-based policy playbooks for lawmakers.

The Framework for Analysis

The commission formally launched on June 11, 2026, and is co-hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Urban Institute. To ensure recommendations are data-driven rather than partisan, the group is co-directed by Brent Orrell of AEI and Elisabeth Jacobs of the Urban Institute.

Supporting the commissioners is a specialized research team with expertise in labor economics, macroeconomics, social insurance, and AI regulation. This academic infrastructure provides the empirical grounding necessary to move beyond theoretical concerns toward actionable legislative frameworks.

Why the Initiative Matters

The urgency of the commission stems from a perceived lag in the policy response to generative AI. Gina Raimondo noted that the impact of AI is no longer a future problem, as the technology is already reshaping jobs and earnings while policy has failed to keep pace. Paul Ryan added that the commission is prepared to meet this challenge using "hard data and clear vision."

For the broader economy, the stakes involve preventing mass workforce displacement. By creating practical frameworks, the commission aims to ensure American workers can adapt to an AI-driven economy without losing stability in their earnings or benefits. The bipartisan leadership suggests an attempt to create a consensus-based approach to labor protection and retraining in an era of unprecedented automation.

Next Steps for Policy

Over the coming twelve months, the commission will focus on gathering data on specific industry shifts and evolving requirements for worker skills. The final output will be a series of playbooks intended to guide policymakers in implementing social insurance and regulatory updates. While the appointment of the commissioners marks a significant organizational step, the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on whether its evidence-based recommendations are adopted within a divided legislative environment.