Who counts as part of the AI workforce? The answer shapes how researchers measure AI talent, how policymakers diagnose shortages, and how workforce strategies are designed. Yet many existing definitions capture very different kinds of work under the same label. This blog examines the strengths and weaknesses of prevailing approaches and introduces CSET’s new definition of AI development jobs as a narrower, policy-relevant alternative.

A CSET report was highlighted in an article published by the New York Times. The article discusses SpaceX’s confidential filing for an initial public offering, its potential to become one of the largest IPOs ever.

Please join the Center for Security and Emerging Technology on Tuesday, March 10, for our 2026 Spring Symposium, which will include discussions on building the AI and emerging technology workforce. The event will feature a fireside chat with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, as well as insights from industry and labor experts at the cutting edge of technology workforce policy. 

CSET’s Jack Karsten shared his expert perspective in an article published by CNN. The article looks at how artificial intelligence is changing the nature of work, using radiology as an example of how AI can support professionals on the job.

CSET submitted the following response to the White House Office of Science and Technology in support of its "Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise initiative.

CSET’s Helen Toner shared her expert analysis in an article published by Axios. The article discusses how HR departments are increasingly using AI tools for recruiting, performance management, and workplace operations while also navigating significant reliability and privacy risks.

The U.S. AI Action Plan is built on three familiar pillars—accelerating innovation, expanding infrastructure, and maintaining technological leadership—but its real test depends on education and training. To that end, the Trump Administration has linked the plan to two executive orders issued in April 2025: Executive Order 14277, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” and Executive Order 14278, “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.” Both orders came with tight deadlines and those windows have now closed. So where do things stand?

On December 2, CSET hosted a webinar to highlight the new PATHWISE tool and discuss the full range of emerging technology training and workforce issues. Following a demo of the new tool, Senior Fellow Matthias Oschinski moderated a discussion with leading experts on how this new data can inform the critical policy discussions central to the U.S. developing a robust domestic AI and cyber workforce.

CSET’s Helen Toner shared her expert analysis in an article published by The New York Times. The article discusses how Chinese-born researchers continue to play a critical role in advancing U.S. artificial intelligence, even amid heightened political tensions and growing immigration barriers.

CSET’s Matthias Oschinski shared his expert analysis in an article published by Forbes. The article discusses how AI is reshaping the labor market faster than traditional education can adapt, emphasizing the growing need for skill-based pathways over formal credentials.