VIDEO: Hickenlooper Chairs Senate Hearing on Training Workers on AI

Hickenlooper: "Now is the time to make sure every worker has access to the professional development training that they need to succeed"

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper chaired a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee's Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety on how artificial intelligence (AI) skills training can prepare workers to compete in the modern job market and leverage AI tools in the workplace.

"AI-literacy training is going to help empower employers to choose the safest applications for their workforce, and make sure workers can give well-informed feedback about their experiences with AI," said Hickenlooper in the hearing. "We know that having a well-trained and informed workforce is key, is really essential, to making sure that AI is used responsibly and that both workers and businesses can reap the full benefits of the tools."

Hickenlooper was joined by Ranking Member Mike Braun; Dr. Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist at LinkedIn; Alex Kotran, Chief Executive Officer of aiEDU; Ken Meyer, Senior Director of Human Resources of Ryan Health; and Denzel Wilson, Grassroots Program Manager at Seed AI.

During the hearing, Hickenlooper and the other senators asked witnesses about how businesses of all sizes were implementing AI in their operations and what AI trainings and skills American workers would benefit from.

"As AI technologies and training programs change over time, we'll need everyone - our union partners, employers, nonprofits, everyone - to make sure we get this right and we set ourselves up for success," said Hickenlooper in the hearing.

Last year, Hickenlooper chaired a Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety hearing to explore how to best ensure workers are trained and empowered for the widespread integration of AI in the workplace and to discuss helpful ways for companies and workers to prepare to leverage AI in their workflows. Hickenlooper also chaired a Senate hearing on how to increase transparency in AI technologies for consumers, identify uses of AI that are beneficial or "high risk," and evaluate the potential impact of policies designed to increase trustworthiness in the transformational technology.

For a full video of Hickenlooper's opening remarks, click HERE.

Full text of Hickenlooper's opening remarks below:

"Last year, this subcommittee heard from witnesses on the potential benefits of AI to our economy, but concluded that those benefits will only become a reality if we have a well-trained workforce.

"Since then, AI has only continued to explode with innovation, and has remained at the forefront of conversations for both employers and workers as new applications of AI continue to transform the workplace.

"Unlike most previous technologies, like all previous technologies, previous technologies like personal computers or cell phones, they initially had substantial barriers that limited consumer access. AI has already achieved wide access.

"AI-powered applications are being used by students and workers and business owners all across the country.

"By some estimates, more than 60% of companies are exploring how to integrate some form of generative AI technology even as we speak.

"Additionally, some workers already have their own subscriptions to AI applications and are using them to enhance their work, to accelerate their projects.

"Bottom line: AI clearly does have the potential to change how we all work.

"While some tasks may become more automated, the majority of jobs will use processes that employ, in some form, a collaboration between AI and human-run systems.

"Despite the clear interest in AI technologies from employers and workers alike, we have more work to do to create widely available AI literacy training opportunities to put everyone on an even playing field.

"The rapidly-changing landscape in AI technologies is making some employees and even some industries hesitant to invest in comprehensive training opportunities. They're not sure if what they're training will be useful and remain relevant in a relatively short period of time.

"But we know that having a well-trained and informed workforce is key, is really essential, to making sure that AI is used responsibly and that both workers and businesses can reap the full benefits of the tools.

"For example, human talent is needed to evaluate outputs generated by AI for accuracy, or to tailor AI-generated concepts into customized solutions that support their customers.

"AI literacy should also include an emphasis on methods to help workers identify AI-generated content versus human-generated content.

"AI-literacy training is going to help empower employers to choose the safest applications for their workforce, and make sure workers can give well-informed feedback about their experiences with AI.

"I think we've read the room. Now is the time to make sure every worker has access to the professional development training that they need to succeed.

"That's why earlier this year I introduced the Lifelong Learning Act with Senators Budd and Peters to make sure we can appropriately invest in training opportunities for current and future workers.

"Senator Braun and I have also been working together to make sure the Department of Labor, as well as other agencies, understand the urgent need for these programs and need to address the safety factors connected to that urgent need.

"During today's hearing, we'll hear from panelists from various sectors and communities, who are providing or benefiting AI-literacy training opportunities.

"As AI technologies and training programs change over time, we'll need everyone - our union partners, employers, nonprofits, everyone - to make sure we get this right and we set ourselves up for success."

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