July 11, 2024 — Work Shift, a digital hub for news, analysis and opinion focused on how education and training can deliver the talent and opportunity society needs, has announced new funding from Cognizant, GitLab Foundation, Kapor Foundation and Walmart. This support will scale Work Shift’s coverage of AI and economic opportunity, deepening the outlet’s coverage of how new technologies are reshaping learning and work.
Through this initiative, Work Shift will deliver in-depth reporting on the experiences of workers and learners as they navigate a new AI-driven skills race, as well as the strategies leveraged by employers and regional economies to adapt to these technological advancements and talent needs. The outlet will deliver original reporting on AI’s multifaceted impact on economic opportunity and provide insights into a rapidly evolving landscape.
“This financial support is critical as we expand our reporting into how people at all stages in their education and work journey are impacted by new technologies, allowing us to make sense of the profound changes occurring in the workforce,” said Elyse Ashburn, editor of Work Shift. “Investments in independent journalism are essential to ensure that these stories are told with depth, accuracy and integrity—and we can’t wait to continue delivering stories that inform conversations and drive meaningful change.”
As part of this funding, Work Shift recently launched The Cusp, a new podcast hosted by Paul Fain. The podcast features interviews with decision-makers, experts, and innovators at the forefront of how AI is transforming the ways we learn and work. This continued content expansion showcases Work Shift’s commitment to providing diverse platforms to explore the intersections of technology, education and economic opportunity.
Work Shift is dedicated to its position as an independent, nonpartisan news organization, where news judgments and editorial decisions are made independently. Read the latest at https://workshift.org, and subscribe to The Job, a weekly newsletter on the connections between education and work.
Quotes from Funders:
“Technological change is moving quicker than ever, and Cognizant supports Work Shift’s efforts to report on the latest innovations and the impact on work, learning ecosystems and society,” said Emma Fisher, Managing Director, Corporate Affairs at Cognizant. “Innovations in AI have the potential to be society’s great equalizer—bridging the longstanding digital divide and providing more people with access to well-paying jobs—and Cognizant’s Synapse initiative is committed to skilling one million people to help build the future workforce and those economic opportunities.”
“Generative AI and related tools are making previously unintelligible piles of data accessible, useful, personally relevant and actionable—this is not only changing how we access information and education, but also the definition of what makes a ‘skilled employee’ in most industries,” said Matt Zieger, Senior Program Officer at GitLab Foundation. “Our support for Work Shift will help demystify a complex and rapidly unfolding landscape, empowering all of us to improve how these technologies increase economic opportunity.”
“The rapid integration of AI into our economic systems presents both opportunities and challenges. We believe in supporting journalism that not only informs but also drives critical conversations around ethical and inclusive technology,” said Kirsten Lundgren, Director Of Tech Economic & Workforce Initiatives at Kapor Foundation. “Work Shift’s commitment to exploring how AI can be leveraged to create equitable economic opportunities aligns with our mission to bridge the gap in access and advancement for underrepresented communities.”