Gina Raimondo is an AI optimist. So why does a mass layoffs wave worry her? (www.cnbc.com)

Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed concerns about the potential for massive layoffs as artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly advances. In a recent podcast interview, she highlighted the urgency of planning for the workforce transition, warning that without strategic guidance, the U.S. risks facing tens of millions of job losses and a prolonged recession. Raimondo, an AI optimist, believes that while AI will ultimately create new, unforeseen job opportunities, immediate and well-organized transitions are crucial to mitigate social unrest and economic disparity. She pointed out that the unchecked introduction of AI technologies could amplify existing inequalities and threaten the very fabric of democracy. Raimondo co-founded the nonprofit initiative Raise Us to address these concerns by facilitating collaboration between state governments and businesses to create worker-friendly policies, retraining programs, and innovative unemployment solutions. She emphasized the need to adapt outdated workforce policies to better equip Americans for an AI-driven economy, advocating for changes to tax incentives that encourage the hiring of human workers over AI agents. Given the complexity and scale of the challenges ahead, Raimondo is rallying a coalition of proactive corporate leaders to explore effective strategies for this significant economic shift, as she fears a lack of coordinated effort could have dire consequences for the U.S. workforce.