As Artificial Intelligence ‘Threatens’ Workers, Union Leaders & Whistleblowers Testify At A Hearing As New York City ‘Moves Towards Regulation & Protections’

As Artificial Intelligence ‘Threatens’ Workers, Union Leaders & Whistleblowers Testify At A Hearing As New York City ‘Moves Towards Regulation & Protections’

(NEW YORK CITY) - New York City is moving from warning about the disruptive potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to building a more concrete strategy for regulating how the technology affects Workers and consumers.

The shift comes as AI faces growing scrutiny nationally, with former Employees of major companies warning the industry is struggling to contain the risks of the ever-growing, powerful systems.

Those concerns were on full display Monday (October 12th), when the City Council convened its first City-wide hearing on AI featuring representatives of major technology companies, lawmakers, whistleblowers from AI companies and Worker-Advocates.

During the hearing, the Council unveiled 10 proposed Bills addressing AI safety, privacy and accountability, including a measure that would prohibit companies from deploying AI Systems in the City without third-party validation and require a human-operated “kill switch.”

Union Leaders also testified about the technology's impact on Workers.

32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Manny Pastreich said his Union’s Members had encountered AI-powered Workplace Systems that had triggered disciplinary actions without human oversight, interfered with earned time off and effectively “gigified” stable Union jobs.

The Union has also received reports of AI being used to replace Workers and filed a grievance over the use of AI-powered “smart glasses” to monitor Airport Workers.

Because the hearing stretched for more than 10 hours, some Labor Leaders were unable to deliver their testimony in person.

The Chief received written testimony from United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, who emphasized the Union’s efforts to ensure AI remains a tool that supports rather than replaces Educators: “Our mission is to strengthen the human side of teaching while preparing Educators and students to use AI responsibly, creatively and critically.”

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