(NEW YORK CITY) - Artificial Intelligence (AI) has produced a range of reactions across New York City’s Labor Movement. Some Unions have embraced the technology as a tool that can support workers, while others have fought to limit its use where it threatens jobs or professional expertise. Yet, the following perspectives demonstrate Workers, Labor Leaders and Elected Officials alike largely agree AI should be governed by transparency, accountability and protections that places Workers' Rights at the center of the discussion.

Public-Sector Unions: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 37, New York City's largest Municipal Union, has taken one of the more legislatively active postures of any New York Union on AI. DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido says City Agencies were deploying AI faster than they could ensure it was safe or fair, citing a specific example from Child Welfare Services: "City Agencies such as Health+Hospitals in the Department of Social Services are aggressively introducing AI in work that deals directly with the health and welfare of the Public Sector and of New Yorkers. A recent audit revealed that an AI tool that's being used at the Administration of Children's Services was trained on data that's a decade old and the programs used factors for determining eligibility that are clear proxies for race and socio-economic status. This algorithm does not empower Social Workers. It undermines their professional expertise with a biased system."

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: AI and labor in New York - The Chief