AI as an efficient and responsible colleague

Artificial intelligence is changing the world of work significantly. With changes come opportunities, challenges and risks. When developing and deploying AI, it is important to take workers’ rights seriously.

The impacts of AI on the economy are unclear. Many assessments have indicated that AI can improve productivity. However, realising productivity gains will demand new skills and competences from employees. It should also be noted that while AI will create new roles and jobs, existing jobs will also disappear. New jobs will not necessarily be created where the old ones are lost. It is therefore difficult to assess the impact of AI on employment.

To harness the potential introduced by AI and reduce the risks:

• Employees should be offered the opportunity to upgrade their skills and to retrain. This will facilitate adaptation to a changing labour market and the possibility to exploit the opportunities offered by AI.
• Future employees’ AI skills must be assured. In addition to providing opportunities for those in work to update their skills, it is also important to ensure that those entering the workforce have sufficient AI skills. In practice, the integration of AI topics at different educational levels must be ensured.
• It is important to ensure that the introduction of AI does not result in an increase in inappropriate surveillance of workers or invasion of privacy. The focus of AI in the workplace must be on well-being and working conditions. While AI can help reduce routine and heavy workloads, it must not lead to a deterioration in workers’ well-being or an increase in psychosocial stress.
• The development and use of AI must respect ethical principles such as fairness, transparency, security and accountability. It is important that AI decision-making processes are transparent and comprehensible so that employees can trust that AI is being used fairly and equitably.
• It is important to ensure that AI is non-discriminatory and to monitor its impact on different populations. The AI systems in use must not contain discriminatory features. Conversely, there are estimates that the impact of AI would be more concentrated on women. Therefore, in addition to ensuring non-discrimination, it is important to pay continuous attention to the impact of AI on different populations and, if necessary, to take policy measures accordingly.
• Employees must be given the opportunity to influence both the introduction of AI and its use at work. Involving employees and staff representatives in decision-making at the design stage will ensure that employees’ perspectives and needs are considered, and that AI is used in a way that benefits all parties. At the same time, it will increase trust in the workplace and prevent risks to workers’ rights and human rights.
• The risks, opportunities and use of AI must be assessed in an ongoing dialogue in workplaces and between social partners. Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly and unpredictably. Therefore, a one-off consultation of employees during the deployment phase is not enough.
• Particular attention must be paid to management by algorithm. Management by algorithm is constantly evolving and has a significant impact on the daily lives of employees. There is a risk of work becoming more monotonous and hectic if algorithmic management is poorly implemented. This is why this issue needs to be kept under constant review, both at the level of the legislator and at the level of society at large.

The case for regulating AI at EU level

• To secure European expertise in AI. There are signs that AI and related skills are becoming more concentrated. Europe needs to be on the move early in developing AI and the skills needed to use it.
• To strengthen the protection of employees through AI legislation. Current EU-level regulation needs to be enhanced, for example from the point of view of equal treatment of workers and in terms of information and consultation obligations.
• Any legislative initiative or application of existing legislation must address deficiencies in workers’ rights and protection and ensure, that humans are in control of all human-machine interactions. EU legal provisions on the use of AI in the workplace should be supported by clear guidelines. The effectiveness of existing legislation and its shortcomings need to be assessed and, where necessary, supplemented.
• The European AI Office must foster intensive cooperation with European social partners, both at sectoral and cross-sectoral level.
• Cooperation must be ensured between the AI Office and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

The introduction of AI in working life offers significant opportunities, but it must be balanced with respect for workers’ interests and rights. AI must become a force that improves working life and creates prosperity for all. AI must be regulated to ensure that it evolves in the desired direction and the regulatory framework must be consistent and comprehensible.

Additional information:

• Susanna Salovaara, Director, Finunions, tel. +32 488 47 95 08, susanna.salovaara@finunions.org  

• Juha Antila, Head of Research and Development, SAK, tel. +358 50 575 1790, juha.antila@sak.fi   

• Tom-Henrik Sirviö, Economist, STTK, tel. +358 40 684 2251, tom-henrik.sirvio@sttk.fi