(KRON) — An East Bay elected official has introduced a bill to require human oversight in the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Senate Bill 7, known as the “No Robo Bosses Act,” was introduced by State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton).
The legislation, according to McNerney’s office, is designed to “require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to help prevent abuses.” SB 7 would bar employers in California from primarily relying on AI systems known as automated decision-making systems (ADS), to make “hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination decisions,” without human oversight.
SB 7 would also prohibit employers from using ADS systems from using the personal information of workers to “predict” what they might do in the future.
“Businesses are increasingly using AI to boost efficiency and productivity in the workplace,” said McNerney. “But there are currently no safeguards to prevent machines from unjustly or illegally impacting workers’ livelihoods and working conditions.”
“SB 7 does not prohibit ADS in the workplace, rather it establishes guardrails to ensure that California businesses are not operated by robo bosses — by putting a human in the loop,” he continued. “AI must remain a tool controlled by humans, not the other way around.”
The legislation is sponsored by the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. If the legislation is passed, McNerney’s offices said it will be the first of its kind in the nation.
AI and ADS systems are increasingly being used by employers in California and around the world. However, McNerney’s office cites examples of “bossware” products that prioritize efficiency and cost-savings over health and safety.
In the health care industry, nurses have reportedly had their hours and wages set by algorithms with no human oversight. McNerney’s office also cites examples of people being mistakenly terminated from their jobs by AI.
ADS models have also reportedly used “predictive behavior” models that collect personal data from workers and initiated “adverse actions against a worker based on what the AI ‘predicts’ the worker will do.”
(KRON) — An East Bay elected official has introduced a bill to require human oversight in the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Senate Bill 7, known as the “No Robo Bosses Act,” was introduced by State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton). The legislation, according to McNerney’s office, is designed to “require human oversight of […]
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