The ACTU has welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement of a National AI Plan and an AI Safety Institute.
The National AI Plan clearly outlines the need for a strong worker voice through meaningful consultation, the ACTU says.
The ACTU says the plan manifests a clear recognition of the need to put working people’s rights, wages, conditions, and jobs at the centre of the future roll-out of AI technology.
“Workers aren’t afraid of AI but are rightly sceptical about letting it go unchecked, especially when the technology has already been used by big business to undermine wages, conditions, and to wipe out jobs,” said ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell.
“Creative and media workers have had their work stolen by large multinational tech companies with no payment. This isn’t fair and fails the pub test big time.
“Workers are tired of being told by large tech companies that AI will bring improvements in the far distant future, when our rights and our jobs are under threat right now.
“The AI Safety Institute will play an important part in holding tech companies accountable for the products they are developing and ensuring they comply with all Australian laws before being placed on the market.”