Open Frontier Launches The First Rung Initiative to Keep the AI Economy Open to Young Workers, Founders and Small Businesses

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2026

New white paper and three-state polling call for AI safeguards paired with practical pathways into work, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace and the economy, Open Frontier this week released The First Rung Initiative, a new white paper outlining a policy agenda to ensure young Americans, workers in transition and small businesses are not left behind by the opportunities created by AI. Open Frontier Executive Director Erik Balsbaugh discussed the paper’s key findings with journalist Aaron Parnas on Nov. 10.

The white paper is informed by new polling in Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina, which finds that while Americans are already using AI, many remain unconvinced that its benefits will reach ordinary people. Seventy-three percent of voters surveyed said they used an AI tool in the past year, but only twenty-nine percent expect AI to create jobs in their local community. Seventy-seven percent said they have little or no trust that the government will ensure AI benefits ordinary people.

“Early opportunities for young people cannot disappear as AI changes how Americans work. This is about pairing responsible guardrails with real access to the opportunities AI can create,” said Erik Balsbaugh, Executive Director of Open Frontier.

The First Rung Initiative proposes a federal framework that pairs meaningful AI safeguards with practical measures to broaden economic access, including:

  • Paid, entry-level pathways that help workers gain experience in an AI-shaped economy;
  • Employer retraining programs tied to measurable outcomes;
  • Bridge income for workers navigating career transitions; and
  • Affordable access to AI tools for workers, founders and small businesses.

The paper draws on successful models that expanded opportunity at scale, including the GI Bill, rural electrification and Year Up. It also recommends a 12-month pilot program in South Carolina, Nevada, Michigan and one professional-services metro to test approaches that can be scaled nationally.

Read The First Rung Initiative and accompanying polling here: https://www.first-rung-initiative.org/

Watch the full discussion with Erik Balsbaugh and Aaron Parnas here:
https://tinyurl.com/5xf7ttnj

Open Frontier
A People-First Coalition for Fair Technology
https://openfrontier.us/

Media Contact:
Ben Haynes 
ben@openfrontier.us  

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