AI isn’t a future issue. It’s already reshaping how people work, what skills matter, and who gets access to opportunity.

But a growing gap exists between the speed of technological advancement and the adaptation of systems like education, workforce development, and corporate engagement. Too often, students are left navigating this shift without clear pathways, while companies are struggling to find talent prepared for the realities of an AI-driven workplace. The question isn’t whether students will encounter AI; it’s whether they’ll graduate ready to work alongside it with confidence, critical thinking, and trust.

In this mainstage conversation, leaders from Discovery Education Verizon and Dell will explore what it actually takes to close that gap and where current efforts are falling short.

This conversation will go beyond programs and into the real work of partnership: how companies and educators are aligning around skills, access, and responsibility, what it takes to move from pilot programs to scalable solutions, and how to ensure these efforts don’t widen existing inequities.

You’ll hear what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change if we’re serious about building more equitable, future-ready pathways from classroom to career.

Attendees will leave with:

• A clearer picture of the AI skills gap and why it's showing up in hiring pipelines right now
• Real examples from Discovery Education, Verizon, and Dell of what a deep corporate and education partnership actually looks like in practice
• Insight on what it takes to move beyond pilot programs to initiatives that scale with integrity
• A framework for ensuring AI education efforts reach underserved students rather than compounding existing inequities
• Practical guidance on partnering with existing organizations rather than building from scratch