American education and workforce development stand at a crossroads. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries from agriculture to logistics, rural communities are poised to become unexpected powerhouses in the technological revolution—with the right tools. In this episode of Working Intelligence: Making Americans Irreplaceable, Congressman Vince Fong—representing California's Central Valley in the 20th district—explains how his landmark NSF AI Education Act of 2025 aims to ensure every American has access to the AI skills that will define the future of work.
Join Sophie Singletary and Congressman Fong as they explore how AI is transforming the Central Valley's backbone industries, why community colleges are the key to democratizing AI education, and how bipartisan collaboration emerged even amid a government shutdown to prioritize workforce readiness. The Congressman discusses his personal journey from Bakersfield to Congress, how competitive NSF grants will flow to rural and underserved institutions rather than elite universities, and why investing in AI education is essential to America's global competitiveness against rivals like China.
This is a conversation about closing the opportunity gap, empowering local educators and students with cutting-edge resources, and ensuring that technological transformation lifts up communities rather than leaving them behind. Congressman Fong shares what gives him hope for America's future and delivers a powerful message about why this generation of students and workers are irreplaceable in the AI era.