WASHINGTON, DC – September 10, 2026
The American Enterprise Institute and the Urban Institute have appointed 20 commissioners to a bipartisan commission tasked with developing evidence-based policy responses to artificial intelligence's impact on the American workforce.
The Commission on AI and the Future of the American Workforce, launched in June and now fully staffed, will produce policy playbooks throughout the coming year to help policymakers, employers, and workers navigate the economic disruption expected as AI reshapes jobs, skills requirements, and earnings.
Co-chaired by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former House Speaker Paul Ryan, the commission brings together leaders from business, labor, academia, and government. The bipartisan leadership structure reflects the institutions' approach: rigorous, nonpartisan analysis that draws on ideas across the political spectrum.
A Policy Response to AI's Workforce Impact
The announcement comes as AI adoption accelerates across sectors. Early estimates suggest 10 percent of tasks in many knowledge occupations could be altered by AI tools, with higher impacts in data processing, administrative support, and customer-facing roles.
"The impact of AI is no longer a future problem. AI is already reshaping jobs and earnings, and the policy response has not kept pace," Raimondo said in a statement. "I am excited about this commission's ability to help close that gap by following the evidence wherever it leads and putting practical options in the hands of people who have to make hard decisions."
Ryan emphasized the commission's nonpartisan orientation: "Bringing AEI and the Urban Institute together signals that this is a problem for the whole country, not just one party. I want this commission to offer practical solutions so AI can be utilized in a way that elevates, equips, and empowers the American workforce."
Commissioner Roster
The 20 commissioners span institutional diversity. The roster includes:
| Commissioner | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Joshua Bolten | President and CEO, Business Roundtable |
| Erik Brynjolfsson | Director, Stanford Digital Economy Lab |
| Mary C. Daly | President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco |
| Jamie Merisotis | President and CEO, Lumina Foundation |
| Sarah Rosen Wartell | President, Urban Institute |
| Michael R. Strain | Director, Economic Policy Studies, AEI |
Other members include leadership from Jobs for the Future, the College Board, the Burning Glass Institute, the Communications Workers of America, United Way, the City Colleges of Chicago, and Georgetown University.
Research and Output
Over the next 12 months, the commission will convene listening sessions with workers, roundtables with employers, and site visits to organizations implementing AI workforce strategies. The research team—composed of experts in macroeconomics, labor economics, AI development, and place-based impacts—will inform commissioners' analysis.
The commission will issue practical policy playbooks throughout the year, addressing specific questions such as:
- Which occupations face near-term AI exposure and which roles could benefit from AI augmentation
- What training and credentialing pathways show effectiveness for worker transitions
- How public benefits systems should adapt to non-standard work arrangements emerging from AI adoption
- Whether place-based policies are needed to support communities with high concentrations of affected workers
AEI President Robert Doar said the partnership with the Urban Institute strengthens the commission's credibility: "Rigorous, nonpartisan analysis carries more weight when it draws on the best ideas from across the spectrum. The aim is practical guidance that helps workers and the institutions that serve them."
Policy Context
The commission's work arrives as federal and state policymakers consider AI-related legislation. Recent proposals have addressed AI safety standards, disclosure requirements for AI-generated content, and workforce development funding.
Critics of earlier workforce transition efforts note that policy frameworks often fail to account for regional variation in AI impacts. The commission's inclusion of place-based research aims to address this limitation, examining how AI adoption affects different geographies and sectors unevenly.
The commission will also explore how AI interacts with existing labor market dynamics, including wage polarization, skills gaps in technical occupations, and the role of remote work.
Path Forward
The commission's final synthesis report in 2027 will consolidate findings from the interim playbooks and offer recommendations for federal, state, and institutional policy. Throughout the year, commissioners will publish individual analyses and convene public sessions.
Institutions including the Urban Institute and AEI will host commission activities and distribute findings through their networks. The commission maintains an independent website at aiworkforcecommission.org for updates and resources.
For an initiative focused on policy implementation, the emphasis on real-time output represents a departure from the lengthy academic studies that often inform labor market transitions. Whether this compressed timeline produces actionable guidance will depend on the commission's ability to synthesize emerging evidence while maintaining analytical rigor.
Sources: American Enterprise Institute Press Release, September 10, 2026. Urban Institute Press Release, September 10, 2026.
FIRAT Editorial Board
Institutional Research Desk · Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
The collective editorial and research translation board of FIRAT, synthesising peer-reviewed evidence, policy briefs, and division milestones across our seven foundational research pillars.
