America’s economic strength has always come from its ability to transform, innovate, and adapt. From the development of the automobile to the adoption of electricity and even the internet, the implementation of new technology has consistently propelled the American economy to the top. What we are seeing today amid the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is no different.
AI has the potential to reduce overhead, increase efficiency, accelerate innovation, and so much more. The benefits on a large scale are clear: It’s projected that AI will soon account for roughly 75% of GDP growth. Additionally, it has created over 600,000 jobs in the past two years alone.
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The question facing our nation should not be whether to lean into AI technology. Rather, we should be asking ourselves how. The benefits of this new technology are not easily harnessed, nor is the path to doing so without risks. It’s important that we recognize this.
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Aside from the basic raw material, energy, and water concerns, the adoption of artificial intelligence presents a risk of rapidly increasing unemployment. And while the jobs it has created significantly outnumber the jobs it has eliminated thus far, it’s critical that we do not leave people behind.
2026 has started by continuing the steady wave of layoffs from America’s largest and most successful tech companies. Coinbase, Meta, Snap, GoPro, Oracle, and more have all laid off significant numbers of employees this year. But now, layoffs are creeping into other sectors. UPS, Ford, GM, Lululemon, Citigroup, and even various government departments have also recently announced layoffs due to AI.
The thousands of displaced workers ought not be thrown to the wayside. The new world we are creating with artificial intelligence will demand their contributions, albeit in a different capacity. That’s where the training gap comes into play.
Our nation can’t afford a generational gap in knowledge when it comes to this critical technology. Unfortunately, nearly 80% of employed Americans do not feel prepared to use AI in the workplace. While that may sound surprising, the reason becomes obvious when you consider that 65% of them have not been offered training at work.
The reality is concerning, yet simple. Artificial intelligence is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs every year. At the same time, it is the cause of increasingly common layoffs across a growing number of industries. But a solution does exist.
We must ensure that workers displaced by AI are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to reenter the rapidly transforming labor market. With the right investments, we can avoid the economic stagnation, stalled innovation, and limited growth that come along with having an insufficiently trained workforce.
Take, for example, Verizon’s reskilling fund. While the company has not been spared from layoffs, they stand alone in its $20 million investment toward retraining its displaced employees in order to allow them to contribute to the AI economy and remain competitive. These investments in coaching, thousands of training courses, certifications, and more are exactly what our nation needs at this critical juncture.
Otherwise, as we race through the AI revolution, American workers will be left behind, and ultimately, the very companies driving the revolution will not have access to a suitably trained workforce. The result of that would be catastrophic.
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The current wave of AI-driven layoffs is a symptom of a skills gap that threatens to derail our nation’s economic progress. Companies such as Verizon show that investment in worker retraining is not charity, but a strategic business imperative. If you ignore the needs of American workers today, you ensure that the promise of AI will remain out of reach tomorrow. To me, it’s also a wonderful illustration of common decency and courageous leadership.
We must move beyond viewing worker retraining as an optional expense and recognize it as a critical element in the infrastructure of the AI economy. Policymakers and industry leaders must partner now to mobilize resources for comprehensive reskilling programs, ensuring every worker has the opportunity to contribute to the next great wave of American innovation.
Javier Palomarez is the president & CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council, a leading voice for small businesses in national media, whose opinions have been sought after by the world’s top media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, NBC, FOX Network, and the BBC.
