Heartland Forward, Stemuli to create AI learning platform

Heartland Forward, a Bentonville-based think-and-do tank, is partnering with education technology company Stemuli to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) learning platform that will help rural students and entrepreneurs acquire AI skills.

The partnership was announced Thursday (May 8) at Heartland Forward’s flagship event, Heartland Summit.

Within five years, AI is expected to automate 30% of tasks across most jobs, according to McKinsey & Co. Stemuli’s platform will help prepare students for change by providing “personalized AI education that blends the engagement of gaming with the utility of a career coach,” according to a news release.

“AI literacy is emerging as a fundamental skill for our next-generation workforce, and we must ensure heartland students and entrepreneurs are prepared for the future of the AI economy,” said Angie Cooper, president and chief operating officer at Heartland Forward. “This initiative represents a critical step towards empowering people in the heartland with the tools and skills they need to increase economic opportunity and carve successful career paths.”

The learning platform’s curriculum will guide students through six areas: large language models (LLM) 101, machine learning, prompting skills, AI in the workplace, AI in finance and elective modules aligned with specific career paths.

“AI is evolving faster than ever, reshaping the future of work in real time,” said Taylor Shead, founder and CEO of Stemuli. “Our AI-native game engine equips learners with the tools they need to stay ahead of this era of transformation. We’re redefining workforce readiness – starting with delivering education that is accessible, immersive, and aligned with how Gen Alpha and Gen Z learn best.”

Students complete interactive quests that build AI literacy skills and connect to the needs of employers across various industries in the central United States. The curriculum will be updated based on real-world data and feedback from employers.
According to the release, following are outcomes for Stemuli platform users:
• At P-TECH, the world’s largest early college high school in Dallas County – where two-thirds of young adults earn below a livable wage – students using Stemuli graduated with average earnings between $60,000 and $70,000, outpacing their peers’ $46,000 average.
• In partnership with Stride, the nation’s largest online education provider, Stemuli transformed a library of 672 K-12 courses into gaming experiences for 300,000 students, leading to gains in math proficiency, time-on-task and college and career readiness.
• Stemuli has supported statewide initiatives like Georgia’s digital agriculture career pathways, helping the Georgia Department of Education assess and grow workforce skills among K-12 learners.

“The initiative builds on Heartland Forward’s commitment to strengthening the talent pipeline across the region through investments in education, workforce development and digital access,” the release shows. “From transforming career pathways across the heartland through its Connecting the Heartland Jobs Board to advancing new models of upskilling, the organization continues to prioritize long-term economic mobility for communities in the middle of the country.”