More than half of American workers have experience with AI
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Mike Braun, chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, sent a letter urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide updates on their efforts to prepare American workers to integrate with artificial intelligence in the workplace.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we interact with every part of the world, including our workplaces,” wrote Hickenlooper and Braun. “Responding to this change and effectively preparing our workforce for the jobs of the future will require a coordinated, thoughtful effort across government and the private sector.”
There is broad consensus that AI will revolutionize the modern workplace, including estimates that AI will automate 300 million jobs worldwide. President Biden’s recent Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence directed DOL to develop a strategy to help maximize the benefits of AI for workers, and support workers facing labor disruptions from AI.
The senators’ letter asks DOL about their efforts to establish a framework for AI integration. Questions include:
- How will DOL update and improve workforce training to be relevant to emerging AI technologies for workers and employers?
- What is DOL doing to ensure that workforce training opportunities are reaching people in underserved or under-resourced communities?
- What current federal laws, if any, would likely need to be updated or revisited by Congress to address the growth and advancement of AI in the workplace?
On Monday, Hickenlooper laid out a framework for federal AI regulation at the Silicon Flatirons Flagship Conference. Senator Hickenlooper previously chaired two Senate hearings on AI: the first, explored AI’s impact on the workplace; the second, explored measures to increase AI consumer transparency. Hickenlooper also sent letters directing the White House to develop secure, transparent federal standards for AI and asking the White House for updates on efforts to reduce AI’s potential threat to the nation’s cyber infrastructure.
Text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Acting Secretary Su,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we interact with every part of the world, including our workplaces. According to a 2022 study, more than half of America’s workers had some level of AI exposure.[1] We anticipate that even more workers have developed experience with AI since this study was conducted. Responding to this change and effectively preparing our workforce for the jobs of the future will require a coordinated, thoughtful effort across government and the private sector.
In October 2023, we hosted a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Employment and Workplace Safety (EWS) Subcommittee hearing on AI and the Workforce: Moving Forward Together. Our diverse panel of witnesses highlighted key considerations and best practices for policy makers, including the need for quality AI literacy training, timely workforce data reporting, and information about how employers can best introduce AI systems into their workplaces.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has the opportunity to lead the way as we prepare America’s workforce to maximize the opportunity of AI technologies in the workplace. President Biden’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence (EO 14110) directed DOL to develop best practices and principles to maximize the benefits of AI for workers and identify options to strengthen federal support for workers facing labor disruptions, including from AI.
As Chair and Ranking Member of the HELP EWS Subcommittee, we look forward to working with DOL as it develops plans to support and train both workers and employers on AI implementation. To inform the Subcommittee’s ongoing work, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions:
- How will DOL update and improve workforce training to be relevant to emerging AI technologies for workers and employers?
a. What is DOL doing to ensure that workforce training opportunities are reaching people in underserved or under-resourced communities? - How is DOL preparing to ensure that its workplace guidance and policies keep pace as AI technologies change?
- Real-time workforce data collection and reporting will be important to ensure that the federal government can equip employers, workers, and training providers with accurate information about trends like industry growth or workforce needs.
a. What new data do you anticipate DOL will need to collect to better predict workforce demands related to AI?
b. Given rapid changes in technology and the need to adapt, how will DOL ensure that this data is shared with relevant partners, including Congress, in as close to real time as possible?
- Given the array of industries and occupations that could experience AI-related labor disruptions or displacement, how is DOL preparing to offer relevant job services, including career counseling and training, at scale and to workers with varying levels of work experience?
- From DOL’s perspective, what current federal laws, if any, would likely need to be updated or revisited by Congress to address the growth and advancement of AI in the workplace?
When we invest in our workforce, we invest in our future. We share your commitment to ensuring that every worker has the opportunity to succeed and look forward to hearing from you by March 18, 2024.
Sincerely,
[1] Faverio, M. (2023, November 21). What the data says about Americans’ views of Artificial Intelligence. Pew Research Center.https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/21/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-artificial-intelligence/
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