Conference: AI-ready america workshop

The National Science Foundation awarded Seedai Inc. one hundred thousand dollars on January 15, 2026, under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) to organize and execute a two-day AI-Ready America Workshop in Washington, D.C.

The workshop will convene stakeholders from federal agencies, state and local governments, industry, philanthropy, education, and community organizations to develop strategies for building an AI-ready American population. The event will explore AI adoption across economic sectors including small businesses, beneficial AI use in local communities, AI education at all levels from K–12 through higher education, and workforce training in AI. The workshop will assess gaps in AI literacy and workforce preparedness, with focus areas including federal coordination mechanisms, industry and nonprofit partnerships, and learning pathways needed to accelerate AI diffusion and adoption. Deliverables include a set of actionable recommendations to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness by advancing AI adoption, literacy, and workforce capability throughout the United States.

Seedai Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, is the recipient. The award obligates one hundred thousand dollars with a period of performance through June 30, 2026. Performance occurs in Washington, D.C. The workshop is co-funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Abstract

Even as artificial intelligence (AI) technologies develop and advance rapidly across industry, government, and society at large, the systems needed to ensure that americans are not only literate, but well-trained and skilled, in the effective use of these technologies are not keeping pace. To discuss strategies for creating an AI-ready american population a two-day workshop on AI-ready america will be held in washington, D.C., to bring together stakeholders from federal agencies, state and local governments, industry, philanthropy, education, and community organizations. Topics to be explored at the workshop include the nature of AI adoption and its spread across various sectors of the U.S. Economy, including small businesses; beneficial use of AI in local communities; AI education at every level; and workforce training in AI. The workshop will develop recommendations on how to assist individuals, communities, and businesses in adopting AI capabilities to their benefit, while also assessing gaps that may exist in AI education and workforce training. Discussions will focus on the infrastructure, coordination mechanisms, and learning pathways needed to accelerate AI diffusion and adoption across the united states, with the eventual goal of developing a more capable AI-trained national workforce to strengthen U.S. Economic competitiveness. The areas of focus for this workshop include federal coordination, state and local government efforts, industry and nonprofit partnerships, and AI literacy and education across k?12, higher education, and workforce systems. The outcomes from the workshop include a set of actionable recommendations to accelerate AI diffusion and literacy throughout the U.S. The workshop is CO-funded by the alfred p. Sloan foundation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.