Navigating AI Regulations and Mental Health Strategies in the Workplace
As the government lags behind in regulating AI, workers are taking the lead in securing protections against the potential harms of automation. Unions are playing a crucial role in setting boundaries and demanding safeguards in industries like entertainment, where provisions have been included in contracts to prevent the use of AI in writing or rewriting literary material. Recent cases of corporate abuses, such as the exploitation of synthetic content by Sports Illustrated, highlight the need for worker protections. Microsoft and the AFL-CIO union federation have also partnered to address labor issues related to AI, with workers having a say in how the technology is deployed in the workplace. Workers argue that guidelines are crucial in the emergent phase of AI to ensure their voices are heard and their safety is prioritized.