The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for artificial intelligence to be regulated in the workplace.
ICTU appeared before the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee this morning, which was examining the impact of AI on workers.
Politicians heard that while trade unions are not looking to hold back the progression of AI, they are demanding robust regulation to ensure that AI in the workplace delivers for workers as much as for business.
One expert, Professor Gregory O'Hare of Trinity College, warned that AI innovation is fast exceeding the rate at which the law around it can be framed.
Prof O'Hare, head of the School of Computer Science at Trinity College, told members that the generative AI app ChatGPT is one of the fastest growing technologies in history and has amassed one million users in two months.
He compared this to other technologies, pointing out that it took mobile phones 16 years to reach one million users, with Facebook taking 4.5 years and Tiktok nine months.
Prof O'Hare warned that journalism, media, law, academia, architecture and marketing professions will all be profoundly impacted.
He referenced a Goldman Sachs study which found that two-thirds of all US occupations will be impacted.
And while many benefits may arise from the technology, including the creation of new jobs, there were calls from the ICTU for regulations in this area, to protect workers.
Dr Laura Bambrick, ICTU's social policy officer, said that there must also be preparation for technological unemployment and added that the union supported calls for an EU directive on AI in the workplace.
She told members that AI can have a positive impact on the workplace, but that it must deliver for both workers and businesses.
In her opening address, Dr Bambrick was due to tell the committee that while trade unions acknowledge the immense opportunities offered by AI systems, without appropriate regulation the technology poses potential risks to workers.
"In the same way that EU legislation sets minimum standards for occupational health and safety, new rules are needed to set European minimum standards for the design and use of AI in our workplaces and to guarantee that no worker is subject to the will of a machine," Dr Bambrick said.
"We will need a 'Just Transition' approach whereby policies are put in place to ensure that where parts of jobs or whole jobs or whole industries become redundant workers' living standards are protected through pay-related and pro-active income supports."
Such is the speed at which AI is advancing, a number of TDs and Senators have called for a separate Oireachtas committee to be established to examine the matter.
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Enterprise Louise O'Reilly took issue with the Government's strategy on AI.
Ms O'Reilly said that the GovTech board, which oversees the use of AI in the public service, has too many people associated with large IT companies.
She echoed calls for the voice of workers to be heard in the regulation of AI.
The committee is holding a series of meetings on the impact of AI on workers.
It was also due to hear from the Bar Council of Ireland.
One AI expert warned the committee that the technology is profoundly disruptive.
Additional reporting Brian O'Donovan
