The DOL’s AI principles are an interesting start to embracing AI in the workplace correctly. Earlier this month, the Department of Labor released a list of eight “AI Principles for Developers and Employers” that set forth guidelines on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence while ensuring that no one is left behind in the process. The Labor Department‘s AI advice focuses on including workers in AI plans and training them to use the technology instead of merely replacing them with it. The DOL AI guidelines are not laws, and as such, they are not enforceable, but they do provide a structure to follow for any company that is interested in AI.
It won’t be too long before we do see legal guidelines on the use of AI, especially considering the example of Colorado’s recent AI discrimination law. Soon, more states will set up their own regulations surrounding the use of AI, so it might be wise to get a headstart on setting systems up efficiently.
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DOL’s AI Principles and Best Practices for Developers and Employers
Artificial intelligence is arriving on the scene in unprecedented ways and there are many signs of it everywhere you look. Some have begun adopting AI for customer-facing interactions, while others are investing in HRIS software powered by AI capabilities. Artificial intelligence in the automation of tasks has raised some concerns but it is still moving forward undeterred, as more and more businesses begin to see the potential of AI.
The global AI market size is expected to grow to $1,811.8 billion USD by 2030 according to Forbes Advisor, an achievement that will be no small feat. Tracking the adoption of AI, Adobe believes that 47 percent of digitally mature organizations have a defined AI strategy and 72 percent of leaders see AI as a business advantage. Statistics also suggest that AI technologies could increase labor productivity by over 40 percent. These numbers are uplifting to see but the transition to AI will not be smooth unless it is actively planned for.
The benefits of AI are innumerable but they also have the potential to create a disbalance where workers are displaced, jobs are made redundant, and existing workers have to cultivate an entirely new set of skills. Biases could rise and faulty decision-making processes could leave broken organizations in their wake. There is no way to predict exactly what shape the future AI revolution will take, but involving workers in AI plans and making decisions that acknowledge the entire team feels right. That’s where the DOL AI guidelines come in.
Presenting the Employer AI Strategies Suggested by the DOL
The DOL AI guidelines recommend a slow and planned adoption of AI in the workplace, recommending principles that “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.” Rushing to use AI without planning ahead can be dangerous, opening the organization to vulnerabilities that will be hard to address later on. A strategic approach is necessary right from the start.
The employer AI strategies suggested by the DOL’s “AI Principles and Best Practices for Developers and Employers” are a useful resource to refer to as you plan ahead for AI adoption at work. They recommend involving workers and their interests in every stage of the planning, promoting the development of best practices by considering the feedback of internal teams. The Labor Department’s AI advice is not extensive but it is impactful and should be considered and elaborated on rationally.
There are eight DOL AI principles, and they include the following points:
- Workers and community members should be informed about the AI adoption initiatives. Active discussion with them should guide the development of AI right from the initial stages to ensure their concerns are addressed and insights applied.
- AI systems should be ethically designed and trained to safeguard the interests of workers.
- A governance system is necessary to oversee the use of AI in the workplace. The DOL’s AI guidelines recommend that employers ensure AI tools are not the sole decision-makers and that human supervision is considered in all processes.
- As part of the employer’s AI strategies, they should ensure that they are transparent about the use of AI with every user who may interact with, or be affected by the AI.
- An employee’s employment rights trump any foreseeable benefits of the use of AI and should be protected first. According to the DOL’s AI principles, “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.”
- AI initiatives should not only include workers in AI plans but also enable them to perform their jobs better and assist in simplifying tasks so they can focus on what is important
- When employees’ jobs are impacted by AI, the employer should extend their support to help them with the transition and assist with upskilling initiatives instead of merely replacing them.
- Employer AI strategies that use workers’ data should protect the information collected and limit the ways in which the data is used, only directed towards supporting legitimate business aims.
The DOL’s AI principles are cautionary in nature and intend to prepare organizations for the potential outcomes of embracing artificial intelligence. By involving workers in AI plans, organizations can avoid dissatisfaction in the workplace and focus on working towards goals that are of importance to both employer and employee.