The Department of Labor (DoL) today released a set of principles that provide employers with guidance for implementing AI technologies in ways that enhance job quality and protect workers rights.
The new document cites “centering worker empowerment” as its North Star when deploying or creating AI.
“Workers must be at the heart of our nation’s approach to AI technology development and use,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “These principles announced today reflect the Biden-Harris administration’s belief that, in addition to complying with existing laws, artificial intelligence should also enhance the quality of work and life for all workers. As employers and developers implement these principles, we are determined to create a future where technology serves the needs of people above all.”
The White House’s October 2023 AI executive order tasked the DoL with creating “Principles for Developers and Employers” when using AI in the workplace. The document is intended to serve as a roadmap for developers and employers on how to harness AI technologies for their businesses while ensuring workers benefit from new opportunities created by AI and are protected from its potential harms.
DoL lists centering worker empowerment as its first principle on the list for organizations leveraging AI tech.
“Workers and their representatives, especially those from underserved communities, should be informed of and have genuine input in the design, development, testing, training, use, and oversight of AI systems for use in the workplace,” the first principle says.
The document includes seven additional principles: ethically developing AI; establishing AI governance and human oversight; ensuring transparency in AI use; protecting labor and employment rights; using AI to enable workers; supporting workers impacted by AI; and ensuring responsible use of worker data.
The guidance includes initiatives like creating clear governance for AI, upskilling workers for the use of AI, and protecting workers’ data.
DoL specified that the principles apply to the development and deployment of AI systems in the workplace and should be considered “during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing.”
“The Principles are applicable to all sectors and intended to be mutually reinforcing, though not all Principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace,” the document says. “The Principles are not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a guiding framework for businesses. AI developers and employers should review and customize the best practices based on their own context and with input from workers.”
