The White House has detailed a new “Tech Corps” program within the Peace Corps to accelerate the adoption of U.S.-developed artificial intelligence in partner countries. The effort is seen as part of a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen international deployment of American AI technologies, presenting potential implications for technology exports and global AI standards.
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios outlined Tech Corps and related initiatives at the India AI Impact Summit. Among the steps highlighted were the launch of a National Champions Initiative, the introduction of new international financing options—including a World Bank fund—and an AI Agent Standards Initiative under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
These measures support the administration’s AI Action Plan, which directs federal agencies to collaborate with the private sector and export fully integrated AI solutions—including hardware, models, software, applications, and standards—to U.S. allies.
Structured along the lines of the traditional Peace Corps, the new Tech Corps division will focus on deploying volunteers with backgrounds in engineering, science, and technology fields. These professionals will deliver “last-mile” technical assistance, particularly for application-level deployment of American AI abroad.
According to the Peace Corps, Tech Corps volunteers could assist educators in integrating AI into lesson planning, support government health offices in using AI tools for data analysis, and partner with agricultural agencies to improve training datasets. Additional roles might include assessing opportunities for strategic AI procurement and enhancing the capacity for ongoing AI innovation.
Deployment will prioritize countries participating in the American AI Exports Program, which was established under a July executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at safeguarding U.S. leadership in advanced technologies. While a comprehensive list of eligible countries has not been published, India is expected to be included, with recent signals of support from the Commerce Department.
Recruitment for volunteers is scheduled to commence in spring 2026, with overseas placements anticipated to begin in fall 2026 following the initial rollout of AI systems enacted through the American AI Exports Program.
