With artificial intelligence reshaping the workplace, it is crucial to continue promoting human-centric AI and advocating for policies that balance strong AI development in Europe with social justice and workers’ rights, a high-level debate at the EESC heard.

At its January plenary session, the EESC held a debate on the deployment of artificial intelligence in the workplace, with statements by EESC President Oliver Röpke, European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, and Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of Poland Katarzyna Nowakowska, among others.

Opening the debate, Mr Röpke stated that: ‘Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative trends of our time, offering immense potential while presenting critical challenges. Today’s debate reaffirmed the importance of anchoring AI policy in the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.’

Ms Mînzatu highlighted that: ‘When we think about AI, in particular in the workplace, we should look into ways to boost our investment in research and innovation, and how to simplify the ways in which European companies can develop in this area so that we have our own technologies trained according to European data and based on European values. Abiding by our values on social rights and equality, we ensure that European workers have the same rights in a world with or without AI – that they are protected, and that human-centric control is implemented.’

Ms Nowakowska stated that artificial intelligence in the world of work offered tremendous opportunities to increase productivity and competitiveness for businesses, but also raised a number of questions about its potential impact on jobs and employment, worker health and safety, working conditions, overall job quality, and the role of social dialogue.

Adoption of Pro-Worker AI opinion and the appended counter-opinion

Following the plenary debate, the EESC adopted the own-initiative opinion on Pro-Worker AI: levers for harnessing the potential and mitigating the risks of AI in connection with employment and labour market policies, penned by rapporteur Franca Salis-Madinier. The opinion was adopted with 142 votes in favour, 103 against and 14 abstentions It did not receive the backing of the EESC’s Employers’ Group, which tabled a counter-opinion.

In the opinion, the EESC stresses that social dialogue and worker involvement play a crucial role in preserving workers’ fundamental rights and promoting ‘trustworthy’ AI in the world of work. It adds that current rules should address the gaps in the protection of workers’ rights at work and ensure that humans remain in control in all human-machine interactions.

The counter-opinion by the Employers’ Group was appended to the opinion. The Group members explained that, in their view, the EU already has the tools to embrace the AI revolution, and the existing legal framework would ensure its smooth deployment. (lm)