Original Broadcast Date: 7/26/2026
Sponsored by Udemy and Carahsoft
As artificial intelligence becomes a larger part of government operations, agencies are placing greater emphasis on preparing employees to use the technology effectively. That effort goes beyond providing access to AI tools—it requires building a workforce that continuously develops new skills as the technology evolves.
On Fed Gov Today, Chris Wilson, Senior Federal Account Executive at Udemy, discusses why AI literacy has become a priority across the federal government. He explains how agencies are defining AI literacy for their own missions, why AI skills require ongoing reinforcement, and how organizations can measure whether workforce development is improving mission outcomes rather than simply increasing training participation.
Wilson says federal agencies are increasingly focused on AI literacy as government-wide strategies and agency initiatives continue to emphasize responsible AI adoption.
Before building a training program, however, organizations must first define what AI literacy means within their own environment."The first thing we need to do is define what it means to be AI literate as an organization," Wilson says.
He explains that agencies do not have to start from scratch. Existing frameworks on both the civilian and defense sides provide a foundation by identifying the behaviors, competencies, and tasks associated with AI literacy. Agencies can build on those frameworks while tailoring training to their own missions and workforce requirements.
One of the biggest challenges agencies face is the rapid pace of AI development. Wilson references research showing that the half-life of AI skills is only one to two years, compared with eight to ten years for many traditional workplace skills.
That means workforce development cannot be treated as a one-time initiative. "So it's not just about a one-and-done, check-the-box, let's get the AI training done and move on," Wilson says. "It's how do we build a continuous process that ensures we're keeping up at the pace of change."
As AI capabilities evolve, employees need regular opportunities to refresh their knowledge and develop new skills that reflect changes in both technology and mission requirements.
Wilson says successful AI literacy programs begin by connecting workforce development to organizational objectives. Rather than offering training simply because AI is a priority, agencies should ensure that learning initiatives support the goals outlined in their AI strategies and broader mission plans.
He explains that agencies should be able to evaluate whether training improves how employees use available AI tools and whether those improvements contribute to organizational objectives. Aligning learning programs with agency priorities also provides leaders with a clearer way to assess the value of workforce investments over time.
Wilson also encourages agencies to think beyond broad AI awareness. Many federal organizations include employees in highly specialized technical and operational roles whose AI training needs differ from those of the broader workforce.
He says agencies should consider how AI applies to those unique work roles rather than relying solely on general literacy programs. Developing targeted learning opportunities can help ensure employees across the organization understand how AI supports their specific responsibilities while maintaining consistency with enterprise AI strategies.
Another area Wilson believes deserves more attention is measuring outcomes. He says organizations are increasingly looking beyond participation rates and course completions to understand whether training changes employee behavior and improves organizational performance.
"We'd love to see more connection between the C-suite and the program-level folks," Wilson says, explaining that leaders want measurable evidence that workforce development supports agency goals.
That includes evaluating whether employees demonstrate stronger AI skills, whether those skills improve mission execution, and whether learning initiatives contribute to broader organizational objectives.
Wilson says the pace of AI innovation makes continuous learning an ongoing responsibility rather than a temporary initiative. As agencies continue implementing AI strategies, workforce development will need to evolve alongside the technology itself.
Building AI literacy requires defining organizational expectations, reinforcing skills over time, supporting specialized roles, and measuring meaningful outcomes that connect learning to mission success. For agencies adopting AI, preparing the workforce remains one of the most important investments they can make.