Access to high-speed internet remains critical for future economic development in the heartland as poll findings underscore the urgent need for AI education and workforce development initiatives 

Bentonville, Ark— Heartland Forward, a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank working to accelerate economic growth in states and local communities in the middle of the country, today released a new poll, conducted by Aaru, focused on how respondents across the 20 heartland states feel about AI. This latest poll builds on last year’s first-of-its-kind poll which additionally focused on the region’s perceptions and attitudes regarding AI, offering insights into how public sentiment has changed over the last year. 

“The heartland is the third largest economy in the world, and to drive continued economic growth, the heartland must first be connected to affordable high-speed internet and secondly, learn to effectively learn and utilize AI — these are the major economic issues of our time,” said Angie Cooper, president and COO of Heartland Forward. “AI is rapidly changing how people live, work and learn—and yet many heartland communities still do not have access to high-speed internet. We want to ensure that the heartland has the opportunity to lead the nation in harnessing innovation and AI’s potential to transform education and our future workforce for good. The AI poll builds on Heartland Forward’s Connecting the Heartland initiative — offering key insights into where there are gaps and what more can be done. We will use the findings to develop effective programs and drive action that will prime the heartland for future success.”

The poll—which surveyed 2,000 respondents across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin—found:

• More than 50% of respondents report low understanding of how to use AI professionally, and less than 1% feel highly proficient in how to use these new tools in the workplace—highlighting a critical skills gap that could hinder workers from fully participating in industries increasingly shaped by AI.
  • Over half (56%) of respondents report anxiety about AI in the workplace—with states like Mississippi and Kentucky showing even higher concern.
  • Respondents in Texas have a more optimistic outlook, with nearly 40% of respondents there expressing excitement about AI’s potential, particularly in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. 

• Over 71% of respondents believe employers should offer training on how to use AI tools—up from 56% just ten months ago. 
  • This desire for training spans all education levels—from those without a diploma to those with doctorates, reflecting a realization that AI is no longer a distant technological development, but an immediate necessity for professionals across industries.
  • Clear communication from elected officials, industry leaders and academics, as well as targeted, industry-specific AI training will be essential to helping workers understand how to use AI as a tool to improve their productivity, rather than fear AI as a driver for job displacement.

• The disparity between younger and older generations highlights an urgent need for targeted educational efforts that can help bridge the generational divide and create an inclusive AI-driven future for all ages.
  • In April 2025, more than 75% of adults aged 35–44 report at least moderate interest in learning about AI —representing a key demographic for AI-related workforce upskilling and development. This group’s enthusiasm is particularly noteworthy for future regional economic growth, as they are positioned in the workforce at a time when understanding AI will be critical.
  • However, enthusiasm drops significantly among older adults, with nearly 40% of respondents aged 65+ actively expressing disinterest in AI. 

• About 35% of respondents are “self taught” on AI while 13% had AI taught to them.

To help ensure heartland residents are exposed to and learn how to use AI, Heartland Forward announced a partnership with edtech company Stemuli to develop a learning platform that delivers geographically relevant, gamified AI training directly to rural students and entrepreneurs in the heartland to learn the AI skills they need to be best prepared for tomorrow’s AI economy.

Announced during Heartland Summit, the new partnership will use videogame environments to help expedite learning and increase retention. This gamified approach will help users learn skills like how to most effectively prompt large language models, how to most effectively leverage AI in the workplace and how AI can align with specific career paths. 

Heartland Forward is hosting  a series of Salon Dinners across the heartland to better understand community perspectives with state and local officials, investors, philanthropists, business and education leaders and beyond. 

“To fully realize AI’s potential, we need to embrace the opportunities it brings,” said Cooper. “By expanding educational pathways, building a strong talent pipeline and bringing together key leaders and stakeholders to help inform new policies, the heartland will lead the way in ensuring the heartland is connected to affordable high-speed internet and in response the heartland can lead in AI adoption and innovation.”

Additionally, Heartland Forward features real-time insights into the heartland’s economic trends and the latest news on their platform Pulse of the Heartland which is a resource for policymakers, journalists and community leaders. 

About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.

About Aaru
Aaru is led by pioneers in applying advanced language systems to simulation. While AI agents have proven valuable for tasks like analysis, coding and problem-solving, Aaru saw an opportunity to harness their potential for more innovative applications. Aaru’s flagship product, Lumen, demonstrates how large language models can revolutionize the way companies make decisions.