Preparing young Americans for our high-tech future

Students learning how to read. (Wee Dezign via Shutterstock)

A historic shift in the global economy is underway. By 2030, experts predict that changes in technology, demographics, and geopolitics will dramatically reshape how we live and work. Among the most powerful forces at play are the development of generative artificial intelligence – which can understand, interpret, and produce human-like text – and multimodal AI, which can process and integrate various types of data, including text, video, and images.  

These advances have the potential to act as multipliers of human capacity – making workers more productive, improving our health, and facilitating connections, no matter where we live or what language we speak. But they also come with risks. They could leave some groups behind, reduce job opportunities for parts of the workforce, and flood our information spaces with misleading content or inflammatory views shaped by AI-generated deepfakes and algorithms. 

America’s future depends on how well we prepare ourselves and our fellow citizens to use these tools. Ensuring that students develop basic skills, like reading and math, should be the foundation of that preparation. The trouble is, teaching the basics is precisely where the U.S. educational system is losing ground.  

A rapid and profound transformation 

Nearly a quarter of all jobs will be affected by AI and other new technologies by 2030, according to one projection by the World Economic Forum (WEF). An estimated 170 million new roles will be created, while 92 million others will be eliminated. A WEF study has found that current employers also expect that almost 40% of the skills workers use today will be outdated within just five years. Angela Farley of the Texas Talent Accelerator has noted that even once-stable careers, like IT, are becoming obsolete as these jobs are increasingly performed by AI. The pace of change is accelerating and will only get faster in the coming decade.

Young people will bear the brunt of this shift. A 2025 Stanford University study found that recent college graduates face an unemployment rate of close to 13%, compared with just 4.3% for the overall U.S. population. A 2025 Harvard study by Seyed Hosseini and Guy Lichtinger, along with research from Credentials Matter (a partnership between the Burning Glass Institute and ExcelinED), found that entry-level jobs across industries – from sales and marketing to engineering, finance, and customer service – are disappearing as automation and AI take over routine tasks.  

Civic engagement is also changing rapidly. Since COVID-19, in-person opportunities for diverse groups to connect have become less frequent and more limited, with many people turning to online forms of participation instead. Where that online content comes from and how it’s presented has shifted as well. Nearly every American relies on at least one AI-enabled product as a primary source of information at least once a week – often without realizing it – according to a Gallup News study conducted in conjunction with Telescope in late 2024. The challenge now is not access to content, but learning to discern it by navigating abundant information responsibly. 

At the same time these changes are occurring, the academic foundation that students need to thrive in this evolving world is eroding. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – a nationwide biennial test for U.S. fourth, eighth and 12th graders – reading and math achievement are in steep decline across the country. Results from 2024 showed historically low reading and math scores, with just one-third of students demonstrating grade-level proficiency in either subject. 

Student answering a mathematical equation on the white board. (Gorodenkoff via Shutterstock)

The basics are still the basics 

According to the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, effectively using AI and adapting to new technologies requires critical-thinking skills, such as interpreting inputs and outputs, translating data into meaningful insights, and collaborating across diverse, cross-functional teams. Each of these capabilities requires strong foundations in literacy and math. As Erin Mote, the CEO and Founder of InnovateEDU (an educational nonprofit) has explained, “You can’t AI your way out of the basics.”

Yet much of the current U.S. debate on education focuses on which advanced technical skills will matter most. Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple are locked in a microcredentialing war, offering short-term training to attract users and build loyalty – even though there’s little solid evidence that these credentials lead to meaningful career advancement. A report published by Credentials Matter has found that just one in eight credentials actually leads to higher pay. As Sean Gallagher, executive professor of educational policy at Northeastern University, explains, “there’s still very little evidence that microcredentials will necessarily land someone a job.”  

Instead of trying to predict future job trends and train our students for them, Americans should be asking: What core skills will people need to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving society? 

The answer starts with math and reading. Math drives problem-solving, innovation, and data literacy. Reading unlocks learning and is the basis for strong communication, critical thinking, and the ability to navigate information. Both sets of skills are already needed to deploy AI effectively. As Will Rinehart, who studies AI at the American Enterprise Institute, has pointed out, properly using the technology requires precise, thoughtfully constructed prompts – less like casual Google searches and more akin to detailed statements of work. 

As Americans are increasingly exposed to AI-generated content and algorithmically curated information, comprehension, analytical reasoning, and discernment are also critical in ensuring that we remain informed, engaged citizens. As Shilo Brooks, CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, told us, “Democratic life requires citizens to think for themselves. This is a country governed by the people. Every person should be able to go into the town square, listen to arguments, and make the best possible decision for themselves. Self-government is impossible if you are not thinking for yourself.” 

As reading and math skills continue to decline across the country, Americans risk a kind of intellectual disenfranchisement. Reading and math skills are the foundation of civic participation, the tools we use to evaluate data and test arguments. Without such tools, people are left vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation, unable to discern what is true or why it matters.  

While American students continue to slip in reading and math, China is rapidly advancing, strategically preparing its students to harness the power of emerging technologies. China has adopted a national education plan aimed at closing achievement gaps and strengthening foundational skills, critical thinking, and technological fluency. While the United States struggles to teach the basics, China is laying the groundwork for global competitiveness.  

Screenshot of a tutoring app by Khan Academy. (Mundissima via Shutterstock)

Moving forward

Families, educators, schools, institutions of higher education, business leaders, and policymakers all have vital roles to play in preparing our nation’s students – especially the millions of young people who have fallen behind in reading and math. Bringing them up to speed will require instruction that is urgent, evidence-based, and continuously improving. That instruction should be guided by clear, measurable outcomes and leverage the power of AI where appropriate. 

The most effective way to teach reading is through instruction rooted in the science of reading, an approach grounded in decades of research on how children achieve literacy. This framework emphasizes five essential skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Together, these elements form the foundation of strong literacy. Unfortunately, many classrooms across the country continue to rely on an approach known as “balanced literacy,” which encourages students to guess the meaning of words through pictures or context and does not emphasize the structure of language. This approach leaves students struggling to grasp meaning, often compounding academic challenges over time. 

Current math instruction also isn’t meeting the mark.  The most effective method for teaching math combines real-world problem-solving, procedural skills, and conceptual understanding. But as Lindsey Henderson of ExcelinEd (an education policy nonprofit) points out, building these skills requires instructional time, teacher training, and supports such as personalized instruction and targeted interventions that most schools don’t provide.  

Because math builds on itself each year, students who move ahead without mastering the basics fall further behind as they age. To help them catch up, their educational materials must not only cover grade-level content but also fill in key skill gaps. Without both, many students stay stuck, always trying to catch up but never quite getting there. 

The good news is that AI can play a powerful role in addressing some of these problems. As Mote (of InnovateEDU) argues, technology offers a real opportunity to close the skills gaps that hold many students back. Today’s instructional models often assume a linear path to learning – but in reality, learning is jagged. It’s common for students to miss key building blocks along the way. For instance, if a sixth-grade student hasn’t mastered how to blend sounds, they’ll struggle to read fluently and accurately. If properly deployed, AI can help by quickly identifying these gaps and delivering targeted support when and where it’s needed most. 

So far, much of AI’s potential in education remains untapped. Daniel Correa, an expert at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (an education research and advocacy institute), explains that at most schools, AI is currently used for low-level tasks, like creating lesson plans. But its real power lies in personalization. Just as AI tools in health care are now used to analyze data in order to tailor individual treatment, similar tools in education could review a student’s progress thousands of times over, pinpointing the precise intervention that would help them move forward. A handful of these tools are already showing potential. Google’s Learn Yor Way uses AI to turn static textbooks into interactive and personalized learning experiences. Khan Academy’s Khanmigo is an AI tutor that provides custom support as it guides students through lessons or assists with problems. These programs and others like them could provide personalized and targeted instruction that is often absent in schools today. What’s missing is the urgency, investment, and capacity required to bring them into classrooms at scale.

Understand what’s working – and what isn’t

To ensure every American student receives an education that truly prepares them for the demands of the 21st century, state and federal policymakers must uphold statewide systems of assessments in grades three through 12, paired with clear and consistent accountability measures to identify, support, and improve underperforming schools. These systems are essential to ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

Equally important is the investment in robust, interconnected data systems that link K-12 education, higher education, and the workforce. Such systems could provide a clearer understanding of how well students are truly being prepared for future success. And they would give policymakers the insight required to allocate resources where they are most needed. They would also help educators and employers align instruction with real-world demands and offer families a transparent view of the pathways that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers. These tools are therefore essential for building an education pipeline that prepares our citizens for the changing landscape ahead.