Fairfax officials, industry and educators discuss forming AI coalition to speed safe adoption and workforce training

Fairfax County officials and a cross-section of private- and nonprofit-sector leaders on Monday discussed creating an AI coalition to help local businesses and workers adopt practical, governed artificial intelligence tools.

The proposal, put forward by Dan Stork, chair of the Opportunity Committee and the Mount Vernon District supervisor, would aim “to empower every Fairfax County business and their workers to quickly adopt and govern practical and safe AI tools to enhance productivity, creativity, and job efficiency,” Stork said as the meeting opened.

Committee members and invited speakers said the county already has significant assets — federal contractors, research universities and a skilled workforce — but lacks coordinated local leadership to translate AI research and tools into widespread, safe use and workforce training. Speakers recommended a coalition to provide centralized test beds, shared data and standards, and targeted education and apprenticeship pathways beginning in secondary school.

Rebecca Mowdrey, director of the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, summarized survey findings she said illustrate a gap between leadership and workers: “An Axios survey found 90% of C-suite executives report their firm has an AI strategy, while only 57% of employees say theirs does,” she said, and other surveys show many workers are not receiving organized workplace training on AI.