Microsoft has announced a partnership with a major US union federation in a bid to “create an open dialogue” on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI).
The move will see the tech giant collaborate with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to examine the potential impact of AI on the American workforce.
The AFL-CIO group is the largest labor organization in the US, representing around 60 individual unions and over 12 million workers nationally.
Microsoft said the partnership is the “first of its kind between a labor organization and technology company” focused specifically on AI.
The collaboration will enable unions to voice their concerns on AI-related workforce issues and help steer the development and implementation of the technology across a raft of industries.
“By working directly with labor leaders, we can help ensure that AI serves the country’s workers,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.
“This groundbreaking partnership honors the rights of workers, learns from the advice of labor leaders as we develop technology, and helps us provide people with the skills that will become essential in a new AI era.”
The partnership with the AFL-CIO will focus on three specific areas, Microsoft said.
This includes sharing “in-depth information with labor leaders and workers on AI technology trends” and improving efforts to incorporate worker perspectives on the future development of AI technology.
In addition, Microsoft said the deal will help “shape public policy” that supports the technology skills and needs of frontline workers potentially impacted by the implementation of AI.
RELATED RESOURCE
Get tips on how to protect your business from potential attacks
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler said the partnership reflects a recognition of the critical role workers can play in the development and regulation of AI.
“The labor movement looks forward to partnering with Microsoft to expand workers’ role in the creation of worker-centered design, workforce training and trustworthy AI practices,” she said.
“Microsoft’s neutrality framework and embrace of workers’ expertise signals that this new era of AI can also catalyze a new era of productive labor-management partnerships.”
Microsoft acknowledges AI-related job risks
The move from Microsoft comes amid a period of growing concern over the potential impact of generative AI technologies on the global workforce.
Research from Goldman Sachs in early 2023 warned that the emergence of generative AI tools could result in more than 300 million jobs being automated globally by 2030, prompting concerns of mass layoffs as firms ramp up investment in the technology.
These fears appeared to be taking shape in mid-2023 with a slew of job cut announcements at major firms on both sides of the Atlantic.
In May, IBM chief executive Arvind Krishna revealed the company plans to lay off thousands of workers in a bid to automate roles spanning its human resources and sales departments.
UK-based telecoms giant, BT, also announced mass layoffs in May, confirming that around 55,000 roles are set to be slashed by 2030. Reports at the time suggested around 10,000 of these could be directly replaced by AI.
Recent polling by the AFL-CIO revealed that 70% of workers “worry about being replaced by AI”, which the labor organization said underlines the need for dialogue between big tech and the US workforce on the topic.
“To improve work while creating richer possibilities for our lives on the whole, the transition to an AI-assisted future must center workers’ voices,” Microsoft said in a statement.
“That’s why Microsoft and the AFL-CIO have created this labor-tech partnership — to ensure workers have a voice in the process and that their needs are understood.”
-
New chapter, same partners: Keeping the channel aligned with changeIndustry Insights How to maintain strong channel partnerships amid evolving strategies and market change
-
Palo Alto Networks snaps up CyberArk in identity security pushNews The acquisition marks the latest in a string for Palo Alto Networks
-
‘LaMDA was ChatGPT before ChatGPT’: Microsoft’s AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman claims Google nearly pipped OpenAI to launch its own chatbot – and it could’ve completely changed the course of the generative AI ‘boom’News In a recent podcast appearance, Mustafa Suleyman revealed Google was nearing the launch of its own ChatGPT equivalent in the months before OpenAI stole the show.
-
Microsoft is doubling down on multilingual large language models – and Europe stands to benefit the mostNews The tech giant wants to ramp up development of LLMs for a range of European languages
-
An executive producer at Xbox Games Studios told laid off staff to use AI for counseling, and it’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever seen in my lifeOpinion In the aftermath of Microsoft layoffs, promoting AI career advice feels supremely cold
-
‘Using generative AI as a copilot is the sweet spot’: A look at Nationwide’s AI approachCase study Nationwide Building Society is expanding its use of generative AI in 2025, with the core focus of making the lives of its staff easier
-
“Governance is an irreplaceable role”: Microsoft Security VP on why diversity and sector expertise will keep security workers relevant in the age of agentic AINews Improved AI skills and a greater focus on ensuring agents are secure at point of deployment will be key for staying ahead of attackers
-
Microsoft says workers should believe the hype with AI tools: Researchers found Copilot users saved three hours per week sifting through emails, gained more focus time, and completed collaborative tasks 20% fasterNews Using AI tools paid dividends for some workers, but alternative research shows it could create problems for others down the line.
-
Third time lucky? Microsoft finally begins roll-out of controversial Recall featureNews The Windows Recall feature has been plagued by setbacks and backlash from security professionals
-
Microsoft launches new security AI agents to help overworked cyber professionalsNews Microsoft is expanding its Security Copilot service with new AI agents to help overworked IT teams deal with surging security threats.
