December 11, 2023 Microsoft has taken agreed to union contract terms concerning the use of artificial intelligence. This marks the first instance of collective bargaining in the company’s U.S. history.
The agreement, reached with the Communications Workers of America union, applies to several hundred employees at Microsoft’s game studio ZeniMax. It includes clauses that demand AI systems to be fair and empowering, offering workers a means to raise concerns if Microsoft falls short in these areas.
The contract also mandates Microsoft to notify the union when implementing AI or automation technologies that could affect workers. Additionally, Microsoft has partnered with the AFL-CIO, America’s largest union federation, to facilitate an open dialogue about AI’s impact on workers. This move by Microsoft represents a significant shift in its approach to AI and union engagement.
Sources include: Engaget [](https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-agrees-to-union-contract-terms-involving-the-use-of-ai-173354643.html)
