Building the US talent engine hinges on cultivating inclusive, future-ready education and workforce development. Despite hundreds of billions of public and private investment, the US still needs to move faster and more strategically to stay competitive on the global stage. To close that gap, America must make computing and artificial intelligence (AI) a new basic literacy—embedded across curricula from preschool to lifelong learning.

The Computing Imperative challenges educators, funders, and industry leaders to move beyond incremental reform and reimagine the nation’s learning ecosystem for the AI age. The US cannot use yesterday’s education models to outpace global competitors tomorrow. By blending computational rigor with creativity, ethics, and entrepreneurship, we can catalyze a national engine of innovation and resiliency.

Four recommendations to reimagine the future of education and work for all Americans:

• Make computing and AI the new basic literacy: Fund computing as core infrastructure.
• Reinvent higher education for the AI+ era: Invest in programs and partnerships that prepare students to lead with both technical expertise and creative, ethical capacity.
• Hardwire lifelong learning into the future of work: Catalyze a new reskilling and upskilling market.
• Build America’s talent engine for global competitiveness: Create local talent ecosystems and bolster entrepreneurship.

If these recommendations are implemented, the United States can emerge from the AI revolution transformed for the better—empowering learners, uplifting workers, and ensuring innovation thrives. The future of work, education, and the American Dream depends on how boldly we act today.