Hi John,

If it seems like everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) and it’s suddenly everywhere—that’s probably because it is. AI is on the brink of quickly reshaping our world, our economy, public services and our jobs in the coming months and years. It’s a powerful tool that Big Tech CEOs are pouring massive investments into, even as you’re reading this.

Working people need an AI future that makes our jobs safer and more efficient, helps us level up our skills, and protects our rights. But Big Tech corporations are rolling out AI-powered technologies without guardrails in place to protect workers from harm. Public agencies are also using AI systems that, if left unregulated, could threaten critical services and the skilled workforce providing those services. These AI systems can spy on workers; improperly collect and use our personal data; engage in discriminatory behavior; and even steal our creative work to train AI to replace us.

If this corporate free-for-all is allowed to continue unchecked, it could spell disaster for workers. The future of AI is our future, and it’s too important to leave solely in the hands of Big Tech CEOs and billionaires. 

That’s why America’s unions have come up with a blueprint for how employers can collaborate with workers and unions to ensure that working people benefit from AI technology instead of being harmed by it.

Read about the AFL-CIO’s “Workers First Initiative on AI” here:

go.aflcio.org/ai-principles

The American public strongly agrees with us—some 80% of Americans support strong government rules for AI safety and data security, even if it slows down the pace of AI implementation. 

But the Trump administration is failing to listen to voters and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Instead, it released an “AI Action Plan” earlier this summer that amounts to a massive giveaway to Big Tech that would harm workers and make us all unsafe.  

We can do better. Our new AI initiative includes guiding principles for the development of AI, a state and local AI task force to lead the fight for strong AI safety laws at the state level, and a nationwide education and mobilization program to give workers a seat at the table.

The AI principles outline basic guardrails to:

• Strengthen labor rights and broaden opportunities for collective bargaining;
• Advance guardrails against harmful uses of AI in the workplace;
• Support and promote copyright and intellectual property protections;
• Develop a worker-centered workforce development and training system;
• Institutionalize worker voice within AI research and development;
• Require transparency and accountability in AI applications;
• Model best practices for AI use with government procurement (purchasing); and
• Protect workers’ civil rights and uphold democratic integrity.

Dive into our AI principles in more detail.

It’s time working people are at the center of the conversation on AI. This new initiative will help protect workers’ jobs, our rights and our freedoms—and secure an AI future that prioritizes improving work, shrinking inequality and benefiting all Americans, not just the wealthy and well-connected.  

In solidarity,

Team AFL-CIO

Text WORK to AFLCIO (235246) to join our text action team. (Message and data rates may apply.)