US Department of Labor Launches Free SMS-Based AI Literacy Course 'Make America AI-Ready'

The U.S. Department of Labor has launched 'Make America AI-Ready,' a free AI literacy course delivered entirely via SMS text message, as officially announced by the Department. The course is designed to make AI education accessible to Americans without consistent internet access or a computer.

To enroll, individuals simply text 'READY' to 20202. The program is designed to be completed in seven days, with daily 10-minute lessons. This initiative, a public-private partnership with education technology company Arist, structures its curriculum around the five foundational areas of the Labor Department's AI Literacy Framework.

These five areas are: Understanding AI Principles, Exploring AI Uses, Directing AI Effectively, Evaluating AI Outputs, and Using AI Responsibly. Upon completion, participants are guided to further resources for more advanced learning and career development in AI-related fields. The Department of Labor assures that user phone numbers will only be used for course delivery and not for marketing purposes.

This initiative aligns with the Trump Administration's broader goals as stated in 'America's Talent Strategy' and the White House's 'AI Action Plan' to prepare the nation for an AI-driven future. It follows the Department of Labor's release of an 'AI Literacy Framework' in February 2026, serving as a concrete implementation of that foundational guide.

By adopting an SMS-based delivery model, the program addresses the digital divide, ensuring that all workers, regardless of their access to technology, have an opportunity to develop basic AI literacy. As AI is expected to create new jobs and transform existing ones, foundational knowledge in this area is a critical component of workforce readiness. U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling emphasized the program's role in demystifying AI and ensuring all Americans can share in the prosperity of the AI economy.