{"id":12194,"date":"2024-01-12T15:51:46","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T14:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/?post_type=news&p=12194"},"modified":"2024-01-12T16:41:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:41:45","slug":"uni-gs-to-world-economic-forum-in-davos-ai-must-be-negotiated","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/uni-gs-to-world-economic-forum-in-davos-ai-must-be-negotiated\/","title":{"rendered":"UNI GS to World Economic Forum in Davos: Employers must negotiate over AI risks, benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"
UNI General Secretary Christy Hoffman is carrying an urgent message to the World Economic Forum in Davos: With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshaping the world of work, unions are more crucial now than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
The theme of this year\u2019s gathering in the Swiss mountain village is \u201cRebuilding Trust,\u201d\u202fand it will include significant discussion of how artificial intelligence is poised to change the world \u2013 including the world of work. The WEF has called AI-generated misinformation the world’s biggest short-term<\/a> threat.<\/p>\r\n UNI General Secretary Hoffman said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n “The spread of misinformation is not AI’s only threat to democracy. If we allow AI’s economic benefits to be hoarded by the few, it will exacerbate the already staggering levels of global economic inequality, which undermines trust in democratic institutions. By strengthening unions and expanding collective bargaining, we can address AI’s economic risks head on. We can ensure that workers have the power to shape the use of technology and participate in its gains. It’s the path our societies must follow to foster an equitable future.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n In a recent essay published by the WEF<\/a>, Hoffman continues this argument:<\/p>\r\n “Judging the success of generative AI solely by metrics of productivity and profit misses the mark. Forecasts of adding $7 trillion annually<\/a> to the global economy or boosting corporate profits by $4.4 trillion<\/a> should not be hailed as triumphs if they merely amplify existing inequalities, destabilize democracies and degrade job quality. <\/em><\/p>\r\n “We must make sure AI benefits all and ensuring workers\u2019 bargaining power is the way to do it.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<\/div>\r\n UNI has supported its\u00a0affiliates<\/a>\u00a0in pushing for fair implementation of technology, including generative AI.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n For example, it organized global solidarity during the Writers Guild of America, East and West, successful 148-day strike \u2013 the first where AI was a core bargaining issue \u2013 and UNI\u00a0celebrated their win<\/a>\u00a0as a victory for all workers. Deutsche Telecom and its works council have just issued a \u201cManifesto<\/a>\u201d which describes a joint approach towards assessing AI and its implications, along with protections for key rights.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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