The Department of Labor (DOL) is collaborating with the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop an artificial intelligence curriculum for U.S. students, similar to China’s approach to AI education, according to Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, FedScoop reported.

Speaking before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Sonderling told lawmakers that the Trump administration views AI education as a national competitiveness and workforce development priority. He noted that China begins teaching AI concepts as early as second grade, while the U.S. has yet to adopt a similar nationwide strategy.

Sonderling said the DOL is also preparing to launch an AI Workforce Hub that will allow the agency to establish partnerships with technology companies through memorandums of understanding. These agreements are expected to provide insights into evolving workforce needs and help shape AI education programs.

The goal, he said, is to equip students and workers with foundational AI skills while addressing growing concerns about job displacement. “To be able to get rid of that fear, we need to have education,” Sonderling said, adding that input from technology companies will be critical to keeping curricula current.

He also highlighted plans for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect data on AI’s impact on employment, including a recent request for information on adding AI-related questions to the American Time Use Survey.