The National Academies will hold a one-day hybrid exploratory workshop to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping trajectories into and through the tech workforce. Held under the auspices of the Action Collaborative on Education and Workforce Trajectories in Tech, the workshop will provide a neutral forum for participants to consider how math, computer science, and engineering programs—working in partnership with high-tech industry and national laboratories—can prepare and support people across the country to thrive in an AI-driven technological enterprise. Discussions will focus on designing education and workforce programs that strengthen recruitment, retention, and advancement by equipping learners with the ethical, technical, and analytical skills needed to navigate a rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.

To inform how institutions might strengthen programs, curricula, and workforce development initiatives to meet growing demand, the workshop will:

• Examine how AI is reshaping the systems and processes that influence the recruitment, retention, and advancement of tech talent—including changes to how institutions identify, prepare, and evaluate individuals entering the tech workforce;
• Explore how AI is altering individual career pathways in tech—from early training through leadership roles—and consider how institutions can better equip and support people as they navigate these evolving opportunities and challenges;
• Discuss the ethical frameworks and critical-thinking competencies needed to design AI-enabled learning and work environments that support current and future participants in the high-tech workforce;
• Consider the technical and non-technical skills most needed in AI-driven environments, and examine how education and training providers are adapting programs to attract, support, and advance tech talent; and
• Highlight and facilitate opportunities for bidirectional partnership between higher education, tech industry, and other research institutions to meet rapidly evolving needs and expectations related to AI, including coordinated approaches to skills development.

The workshop will be summarized in an interactive proceedings-in-brief synthesizing key insights, examples, and actionable strategies. The workshop discussions and proceedings-in-brief will inform mathematics, computer science, and engineering educators, employers, policymakers, and other organizational leaders designing training and workforce programs to strengthen recruitment, retention, and advancement in the tech ecosystem.