The future of work isnât comingâitâs here. And itâs being shaped by AI, faster than most realize.
When America set out to land on the Moon, it wasnât just about exploration. It was about uniting public and private efforts around an audacious goal, proving that when we aim high, we can achieve the spectacular. The Apollo program didnât just deliver a lunar landing. It gave us technologies that improved daily life on Earthâthings like freeze-drying for food, fire-resistant textiles, and clean water systems.
Today, we face another moment like that. This time, the mission is artificial intelligence.
In July 2025, Washington released Winning the AI Race: Americaâs AI Action Plan. For the first time, AI was framed as a true national priorityâan initiative that demands coordination across government, business, and education.
But just like the Moonshot, Washington can only set the stage. The real question is what states, cities, schools, and employers will do with the momentum.
âWinning the raceâ is not about beating others. Itâs about ensuring that AI becomes the great equalizerâthe technology that expands access to knowledge, tools, and pathways to prosperity.
Handled well, AI can provide opportunities for more people to succeed, not fewer. But that outcome is not automatic. Just as Apolloâs breakthroughs benefited the entire world, todayâs AI mission has the potential to reshape not only the U.S. economy but also global progress. The choice lies in whether we act with purpose.
Washingtonâs Action Plan outlined four key pillars:
Read the full Action Plan here â
The Plan calls this a âonce-in-a-generation chance to build an AI-ready workforce.â
That means one thing above all: learning to be AI-augmented. Itâs not just about coders or data scientists. Every worker, educator, and public servant will need to understand how to use AI effectively. Training an AI-augmented workforce is the surest way to ensure people thrive in the AI economy.
As NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang put it: âAI will not take your job. A person using AI will.â
Hereâs how local leaders can start turning national policy into everyday opportunity:
Apollo proved that when America takes on a bold mission, the benefits ripple across the world. AI is todayâs mission, and Washington has set the stage with its national Action Plan.
Now itâs up to local leaders, educators, and employers to seize this moment and turn it into a real opportunity. The stakes are clear: build an AI-ready workforce and communities will thrive; ignore it and risk being left behind.
Organizations like Hopeworks are already showing whatâs possibleâhelping young adults become AI-augmented contributors and proving that this future is within reach.
AI is already reshaping work. Letâs make sure it also reshapes opportunityâby acting now to create pathways, skills, and systems that ensure this Moonshot benefits every community.
Authored by Dave Taddei, Director of AI Innovation Hub and AI Services, Hopeworks