DOL Issues Artificial Intelligence Principles

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 The US Department of Labor (DOL) released a document that outlines several principles with regards to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide employers that create and deploy AI with guidance for designing and implementing these emerging technologies in ways that enhance the job quality and protect workers' rights.  

The AI Principles apply during the entire lifecycle of AI: from development to testing to deployment of AI in the workplace to oversight, use and auditing.  The AI Principles (thought not an exhaustive list, but should be used as a guiding framework) can be applied to all sectors and are intended to be mutually reinforcing, thought not all principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace.

The Department's AI Principles for Developers and Employers include:

  • [North Star] Centering Worker Empowerment: 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.

  • Ethically Developing AI: AI systems should be designed, developed, and trained in a way that protects workers.

  • Establishing AI Governance and Human Oversight: Organizations should have clear governance systems, procedures, human oversight, and evaluation processes for AI systems for use in the workplace.

  • Ensuring Transparency in AI Use: Employers should be transparent with workers and job seekers about the AI systems that are being used in the workplace.

  • Protecting Labor and Employment Rights: AI systems should not violate or undermine workers' right to organize, health and safety rights, wage and hour rights, and anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation protections.

  • Using AI to Enable Workers: AI systems should assist, complement, and enable workers, and improve job quality.

  • Supporting Workers Impacted by AI: Employers should support or upskill workers during job transitions related to AI.

  • Ensuring Responsible Use of Worker Data: Workers' data collected, used, or created by AI systems should be limited in scope and location, used only to support legitimate business aims, and protected and handled responsibly.


Source(s): JD Supra, received on May 23, 2024; DOL, accessed on May 23, 2024