Workers First
AI Summit
Presented by:
Workers are at the forefront of this era of artificial intelligence (AI). Their voices are essential in every AI policy conversation, ending the history of sidelining their expertise.
On March 26, we will come together to discuss foundational principles that drive our vision for worker- and equity-centered AI innovation that leads to opportunity for everyone, rather than just enriching the world’s wealthiest technology companies and their investors.
Our Principles
Workers First Initiative on Artificial Intelligence
AI should benefit everyone, not just tech billionaires and corporate shareholders. The AFL-CIO’s first-of-its-kind AI labor agenda provides a blueprint for implementing AI in ways that empower workers, strengthen the economy and protect public services. These principles ensure technology serves the people who use it.
Featured Sessions
What to expect
Summit attendees will include labor leaders and staff experts, union members, policy leaders, civil society, philanthropy partners and other allies, coming together to advocate for a pro-worker and equity-based AI policy agenda.
Worker's Stories
Watch a video that showcases workers and their unions who are on the front edge of technological change.
Symone Sanders Townsend, Emcee
Join political analyst and program emcee Symone Sanders as we kick off the event.
President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO
Liz Shuler is President of the AFL-CIO, the democratic federation of 65 national and international unions that represent nearly 15 million working people.
What are we confronting?
Claude Cummings, President, Communications Workers of America
Jose Garcia, Program Director, Future of Work(ers) Program, Ford Foundation
Jason Gordon, Director of Communications & Policy, Writers Guild of America East
Isaiah Thomas, Amazon Worker, Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union Alabama
Moderator: Ed Wytkind, Senior Advisor, AFL-CIO Tech Institute
In this session, panelists will discuss the challenges workers face when new technology is introduced without regulations or collaboration from workers. Panelists will share how collective bargaining protects workers.
AI Principles Table Setting
Join Lauren McFerran, Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Tech Institute, as she kicks off our panel on 'A Vision for Pro-Worker AI Innovation with AFL-CIO Principles.'
A Vision for Pro-Worker AI Innovation with AFL-CIO Principles
Amy Chin-Lai, President, NPEU (IFPTE Local 70)
Mike Kubzansky, CEO, Omidyar
Gerry Petrella, General Manager of U.S. Public Policy, Microsoft
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Moderator: Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy, AFL-CIO
Who is responsible for ensuring that AI is developed and deployed responsibly? In this session, panelists will highlight the pivotal role of the labor movement and civil society in shaping AI innovation and advocating for guardrails to ensure that technology benefits everyone.
High Stakes and Deepfakes: Strategic Solutions in the A.I. Era
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Executive Director, SAG-AFTRA
When Anyone Can Be Faked: Why the NO FAKES Act Matters. A session led by SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who will delve into the very real threats from deepfakes in an unregulated environment.
Ask An Expert: AI Questions
Jodi Forlizzi, Tech Institute Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University
Darrick Hamilton, Chief Economist, AFL-CIO
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Herbert Lehman Professor of Government, Columbia University
Megan Rivera, Siegel Family Endowment Fellow, Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Moderator: Crystal Weise, Innovation Policy & Programs Director, AFL-CIO Tech Institute
In this interactive session, audience members will get the opportunity to ask experts their burning questions about AI. Come prepared to get answers to the questions that have stumped you or continue to pique your curiosity.
Lunch
Join us for lunch.
Max Tegmark, MIT, Future of Life
Lunchtime keynote address featuring Max Tegmark, MIT Professor, Co-founder and Chair of Future of Life Institute Institute.
What Could Go Wrong?
Charlotte Burrows, NYU School of Law, former EEOC chair (2021-25)
Bob Foose, Executive Director, Major League Soccer Players Association
Janet Haven, Executive Director, Data & Society
Heidi Shierholz, President, Economic Policy Institute
Christine Silvia-DeGennaro, Senior Workplace Technology Policy Advocate, AFSCME
Moderator: Lauren McFerran, Executive Director, AFL-CIO Tech Institute
In this session, real-life experiences with technology will be shared and panelists will discuss the harms associated with those experiences, as well as policy interventions that can empower workers to address the issue.
Introductory Remarks from Fred Redmond
Join AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond as he introduces our panel on what's happening at the state level around AI policy and legislation.
Report from the Field: States on the Front Lines for Pro-Worker AI Policies
Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
Cherika Carter, Secretary Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council
Lorena Gonzalez, President, California Federation of Labor Unions
Ed Hawthorne, President, Connecticut AFL-CIO
Chrissy Lynch, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO
Moderator: Symone Sanders, Strategist, Political Analyst
In this session, state federation leaders will discuss labor mobilization efforts in their states. They will share labor-championed AI bills in their states.
Turning Vision into Action
Christy Hoffman, General Secretary, UNI Global
Representative Ro Khanna, California’s 17th District
Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department
Maya Wiley, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Moderator: Liz Shuler, President, AFL-CIO
Now that we’ve had the opportunity to discuss the harms and opportunities created by AI, what can we do? In this session, panelists will discuss how labor, civil society, and legislators can work together to achieve the vision of fairness, equity, and dignity for workers and ensure that technology benefits everyone.
Liz Shuler, President, AFL-CIO
Closing remarks by Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO.
Reception
Join us for a light reception following the event.
Presented by
The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people.
We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 65 national and international labor unions and represent nearly 15 million working people.
Learn more about the AFL-CIO.
The AFL-CIO Tech Institute works at the intersection of technology and labor, centering workers’ knowledge, expertise and interests in the innovation economy and in public services to ensure that technological change creates widespread prosperity.
Learn more about the AFL-CIO Tech Institute.News and Resources
Read AI principles from labor unions, and catch up on the latest news and advocacy efforts to protect workers.
