Work in the AI Age: U.S. Labor Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling on Upskilling American Workers

On this special episode of In AI We Trust?, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling joins EqualAI President and CEO Miriam Vogel to discuss a moment of urgency and opportunity for the American workforce. In keynote remarks at a reception following EqualAI’s Summit on Agentic AI, the Acting Secretary outlines the federal government’s mission to prepare the American workforce for AI by demystifying the technology and moving from a narrative of fear to one of job augmentation. The conversation explores the DOL’s ambitious goal of reaching one million active apprenticeships, expanding beyond traditional trades into corporate America and the tech sector, while ensuring that industry-led curriculum bridges the skills gap for the next generation of citizens. From the launch of an AI literacy framework to a free, text-based course designed to reach every American with a cell phone, this episode provides an overview of how DOL is actively approaching its goal to ensure an AI-ready workforce.