ALBANY, NY (WENY)-- AT A PUBLIC HEARING thursday, New York state LAWMAKERS LISTEN TO TESTIMONY ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND CONCERNS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR AI IN THE WORKPLACE INCLUDING IMPACTS ON HIRING, SURVEYING WORKERS, AND DECISIONS ON FIRING.  

“People should be excited for AI, they should be afraid for AI. It is a massive change not just to the workplace but in how we do everything,” said Assembly Member Alex Bores (D-Assembly District 73).

WITNESSES THROUGHOUT THE HEARING SAid CERTAIN AI TOOLS USED BY SOME COMPANIES TO MONITOR EMPLOYEES' ALERTS CONCERN OF WORKERS PRIVACY RIGHTS. 

Some members of THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE’S FEDERATION SAid CONCERNS ABOUT AI AND IT’S ROLE IN THE WORKPLACE CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH AN AI TASK FORCE THAT WOULD GATHER AND DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACADEMICS TO UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS.  

“That’s an important step for making sure these discussions are at the table and transparency and openness are in the discussion,” said Christopher Ford, an executive board member with the Public Employees Federation.

LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A STATE AI TASK FORCE PASSED IN BOTH HOUSES IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND CURRENTLY AWAITS THE GOVERNOR’S REVIEW.