{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"startTime":0.08,"endTime":3.84,"body":"Hey, tech enthusiasts, welcome back. I'm your host, Greg Doig, and today we're"},{"startTime":3.84,"endTime":7.48,"body":"diving into something pretty exciting that dropped a few days ago from the"},{"startTime":7.48,"endTime":10.88,"body":"United States Department of Labor. On February 13th,"},{"startTime":11.12,"endTime":14.72,"body":"2026, they announced a big funding push, up to"},{"startTime":14.72,"endTime":18.52,"body":"$145 million to supercharge registered"},{"startTime":18.52,"endTime":22.28,"body":"apprenticeships in some of the hottest, most critical industries right"},{"startTime":22.28,"endTime":25.97,"body":"now. And guess what? Artificial intelligence, Yes,"},{"startTime":25.97,"endTime":29.29,"body":"AI is right at the top of the list alongside"},{"startTime":29.29,"endTime":32.73,"body":"semiconductors and nuclear energy infrastructure."},{"startTime":33.05,"endTime":36.49,"body":"So what does this actually mean? Let's keep it simple and real."},{"startTime":36.57,"endTime":40.25,"body":"Traditionally, if you wanted to break into a high-tech field like AI,"},{"startTime":40.49,"endTime":43.89,"body":"a lot of people thought, okay, 4-year degree, maybe a"},{"startTime":43.89,"endTime":47.05,"body":"master's, tons of student debt, then maybe land a job."},{"startTime":47.45,"endTime":51.01,"body":"Nope. Apprenticeships flip that script. These are"},{"startTime":51.01,"endTime":54.53,"body":"earn-while-you-learn programs, paid jobs where you get hands-on"},{"startTime":54.73,"endTime":58.39,"body":"training on the job. Plus classroom instruction, and you"},{"startTime":58.39,"endTime":62.23,"body":"end up with nationally recognized credentials. No huge loans,"},{"startTime":62.23,"endTime":66.07,"body":"no waiting years to start earning good money. This new program is"},{"startTime":66.07,"endTime":69.11,"body":"called the Pay for Performance Incentive Payments Program."},{"startTime":69.59,"endTime":73.19,"body":"Here's how it works in plain English. The Department of Labor isn't"},{"startTime":73.19,"endTime":77.03,"body":"handing money directly to companies or workers. Instead, they're given"},{"startTime":77.03,"endTime":80.51,"body":"big cooperative agreements, up to 5 of them, each"},{"startTime":80.51,"endTime":84.09,"body":"potentially worth tens of millions over 4 years. To"},{"startTime":84.09,"endTime":87.53,"body":"intermediary organizations. These groups—think"},{"startTime":87.97,"endTime":91.69,"body":"like industry associations, workforce boards, or"},{"startTime":91.69,"endTime":95.45,"body":"training nonprofits—then pass along incentive payments to"},{"startTime":95.45,"endTime":98.81,"body":"employers or sponsors who actually run the apprenticeship"},{"startTime":98.81,"endTime":102.65,"body":"programs. The more successful apprentices they register, train,"},{"startTime":102.65,"endTime":106.37,"body":"and help complete or retain in good jobs, the"},{"startTime":106.37,"endTime":109.05,"body":"more those sponsors get paid. It's performance-based,"},{"startTime":110.15,"endTime":113.91,"body":"rewards results, not just promises. And AI is"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":117.11,"endTime":120.95,"body":"artificial intelligence, semiconductor, and nuclear"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":120.95,"endTime":124.51,"body":"energy infrastructure. Why? Because the U.S. is"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":124.51,"endTime":128.07,"body":"racing to build more domestic AI power, chip manufacturing"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":128.39,"endTime":132.23,"body":"thanks to the CHIPS Act, and next-gen energy like nuclear to"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":132.23,"endTime":135.92,"body":"power data centers and keep us competitive globally. They"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":135.92,"endTime":139.08,"body":"need skilled people fast—not just PhDs"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":139.24,"endTime":143.0,"body":"coding models, but technicians, operators, data center"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":143.0,"endTime":146.48,"body":"specialists, folks who maintain AI systems, handle"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":146.48,"endTime":150.0,"body":"ethical deployment, integrate AI into manufacturing,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":150.0,"endTime":153.56,"body":"and more. On the same day, the Department of Labor also"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":153.56,"endTime":157.36,"body":"released an AI Literacy Framework—basically a"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":157.36,"endTime":161.2,"body":"guide with 5 core content areas and 7 principles for"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":161.2,"endTime":164.55,"body":"teaching AI basics responsibly. Things like"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":164.55,"endTime":168.31,"body":"understanding how generative AI works, using it ethically,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":168.55,"endTime":172.11,"body":"spotting bias, handling data safety, and knowing its real-world"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":172.43,"endTime":176.03,"body":"impact. Programs applying for this funding are encouraged,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":176.03,"endTime":179.75,"body":"and sometimes required, to weave in that AI literacy"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":179.91,"endTime":183.23,"body":"so even if you're not becoming an AI engineer, you get"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":183.23,"endTime":186.87,"body":"foundational skills to thrive in an AI-powered workplace."},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":187.27,"endTime":190.94,"body":"This ties into the bigger Trump administration goal. Get"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":190.94,"endTime":194.06,"body":"over 1 million active apprentices nationwide."},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":194.54,"endTime":197.82,"body":"It's a debt-free path to solid high-wage careers."},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":198.3,"endTime":201.98,"body":"Research shows apprenticeship completers often earn way more over their"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":201.98,"endTime":205.82,"body":"lifetime, sometimes hundreds of thousands extra compared to similar"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":205.82,"endTime":209.58,"body":"folks without them. So right now, the funding opportunity"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":209.58,"endTime":213.42,"body":"is open on grants.gov with applications due around"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":213.5,"endTime":217.23,"body":"early April 2026. Once awards go out,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":217.23,"endTime":220.99,"body":"we'll start seeing more concrete AI-focused apprenticeships pop up,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":220.99,"endTime":224.71,"body":"maybe roles like AI infrastructure technicians, machine"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":224.71,"endTime":228.19,"body":"learning operators, or semiconductor fab roles with heavy"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":228.19,"endTime":231.989,"body":"AI integration. Look, the world of tech is moving"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":231.989,"endTime":235.79,"body":"insanely fast, faster than I've ever seen it move, and I've been watching"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":235.79,"endTime":239.39,"body":"a long time. AI isn't just for coders in Silicon"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":239.39,"endTime":243.01,"body":"Valley anymore. It's infrastructure, like electricity or the"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":243.01,"endTime":246.81,"body":"internet. This move says, let's train everyday Americans"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":246.81,"endTime":250.57,"body":"for these jobs, pay them while they learn, and build the talent we need"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":250.57,"endTime":254.33,"body":"here at home. What do you think? Could an AI apprenticeship be the"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":254.33,"endTime":257.93,"body":"new way into tech without the traditional college route? Once again,"},{"speaker":"specifically highlighted in one of the key clusters","startTime":257.93,"endTime":261.05,"body":"thanks for tuning in, and as always, stay curious out there."}]}