Description

A Parliamentary inquiry that heard evidence of rising worker surveillance, excessive data collection and unfair automated decision tools has called for artificial intelligence in the workplace to be classified as “high risk” and subject to strict mandatory regulation. The inquiry has also called on the government to ban similar high-risk use of worker data, reform privacy and employment laws to protect workers, develop a code of practice for AI and automated decision-making (ADM) in the workplace, and review awards for jobs being disrupted. The protections should be complemented by awareness, employee consultation, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies, the inquiry found, so Australia can also take advantage of the benefits of the technologies.

Summary

A Parliamentary inquiry in Australia has highlighted significant concerns regarding the use of AI in the workplace, specifically related to worker surveillance, data collection, and automated decision-making tools. The inquiry recommends classifying workplace AI as 'high risk' and advocates for strict regulatory measures, including the reform of privacy and employment laws to better protect workers. Furthermore, it calls for the establishment of a code of practice and emphasizes the importance of responsible AI adoption to harness technological benefits while safeguarding employee rights. This development indicates a proactive approach to mitigating AI's potential harms in the workplace, especially in the Australian context.

Body