3 July, 2026

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work. That’s no longer a prediction; it’s already happening. But as companies race to build increasingly powerful AI systems, another question is becoming harder to ignore: who is responsible for the disruption they create?

So far, the answer has been unclear. Governments have been slow to act, and the debate over how to regulate AI is far from settled. Meanwhile, public frustration is growing, and millions of workers are left wondering what comes next.

This week, a coalition of AI companies, major corporations and foundations announced RAISE US, a new initiative funded with $500 million to help workers prepare for an AI-driven economy and backed by a list of notable industry giants: OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, Microsoft. The idea is to invest in reskilling and career support now, before the disruption hits, rather than after.

This is interesting partly because of the money and the names involved. But also because of what it suggests about how responsibility is starting to shift.

Often, companies treat the social impacts of technology as someone else’s problem. Governments would regulate, schools would adapt, workers would figure it out. But AI isn’t moving slowly, and the companies building it know that better than anyone. So it’s good to see them facing into the disruption and helping to shape the response?

Whether RAISE US will deliver real results remains to be seen. But we’ll be watching with interest, both beacuse of what it might find, and what it will show about the future lines of responsiblity.

By Justine Bahoumina