Raimondo warns of mass AI job displacement without transition planning

Gina Raimondo, former Commerce Secretary now leading the nonprofit Raise Us, told CNBC she fears tens of millions of Americans could face unemployment or underemployment if AI adoption proceeds without a coordinated plan. While optimistic that AI will eventually create new jobs, she worries about a disruptive transition period and potential economic recession. She cited calls from multiple Fortune 500 CEOs expressing concern about coming job losses and is working with governors in four states to test policies including retraining programs, reformed unemployment insurance, and tax incentives that discourage automation. Her concerns reflect growing debate over whether AI deployment should proceed faster than labor-market safeguards can accommodate.