IndustriAll Europe welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to build large-scale AI data and computing infrastructure across the Continent. However, the Plan is missing an initiative on AI at the workplace.
On 9 April, the European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen presented the AI Continent Action Plan which aims to turn the EU into an “AI Continent”. IndustriAll Europe welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to build large-scale AI data and computing infrastructure across the Continent. However, the Plan is missing an initiative on AI at the workplace.
The Plan outlines the EU’s strategy for the next phases of artificial intelligence (AI) developments by focusing on five key domains: enhancing the EU’s computing infrastructure; access to data; development of AI algorithms and their adoption in EU strategic sectors; AI ‘talent’ and skills; and simplification.
Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s General Secretary, said: “The digital transition is already deeply transforming Europe’s industry, and our recent study shows that AI is already used in the manufacturing and energy sectors. The AI Continent Action Plan is a step in the right direction to support this transformation, especially since the EU has been lagging in AI development compared to the US or China. We therefore welcome the plan to boost AI ‘made in Europe’, which is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy, and stress that European AI must be trustworthy and safe.
“We are looking forward to the European Commission’s announced Apply AI Strategy, which is meant to boost the uptake of AI in key industrial sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence, automotive, pharma, biotechnology and robotics. As this Strategy is expected to address sector-specific challenges, including skills development and upgrade, we insist on the involvement of the social partners in the structured dialogues meant to inform it,” continued Judith Kirton-Darling.
IndustriAll Europe recognises the positive potential of AI to boost Europe’s competitiveness and productivity, but it is important to tackle its risks.
Our recent study highlights the risk of AI for workers’ psychosocial safety, their data privacy and their skills. The AI Act has never been an appropriate instrument to address these challenges, and its announced simplification will probably not do much for workers. We therefore continue to call on the European Commission to present an initiative to address AI at the workplace, in particular algorithmic management.
Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary, explained: “Our recent study and position paper on the deployment and use of AI in the manufacturing and energy sectors show that there is no technological determinism. AI is neither bad, nor good, and its outcomes for both workers and industrial production depend on how it is implemented in companies. Social dialogue and collective bargaining are essential to create an environment of trust and ensure that AI is deployed to support workers and improve the quality of jobs. Both are needed to prevent the other scenario where AI is used to surveil workers and increase work pressure. Transparency, accountability and the human-in-command principle must be guaranteed to avoid misuse.
We urgently need an initiative on AI at the workplace that protects workers’ rights and guarantees their involvement through their trade union representatives in the deployment and use of AI in their workplace. We welcome the AI Continent Action Plan’s recognition of social dialogue as key to anticipate and address skills needs, as well as to facilitate the adoption of digital technologies in the workplace in a fair and inclusive way. But we stress the urgency for an initiative to ensure information and consultation rights and meaningful social dialogue.
“AI is already deeply transforming our workplaces. Its impact on workers’ tasks will be massive. The AI Continent Action Plan focuses excessively on AI ‘talent’ and professionals, but all workers will need access to AI training to ensure the AI literacy needed for a successful uptake and use of the new technology across sectors. Lifelong learning through a right to training during working hours that is cost-free for workers is urgently needed to ensure that workers will have the up-to-date AI skills needed for a fair digital transition,” concluded Isabelle Barthès.
Read industriAll Europe’s full AI study here and the summary here
Read industriAll Europe’s full AI position paper in DE EN FR and the summary here