Arizona Senator Mark Kelly introduced the Make AI Work for Americans Act, which would require companies benefiting most from AI to invest in workers and pay their fair share, according to Gray DC's reporting. "This is something we have to tackle immediately," Kelly said.
Kelly's bill joins a crowded field. Senators Blunt Rochester, Hirono, and Schiff separately introduced the Workforce of the Future Act, mandating a federal study on AI's economic impact and authorizing $90 million in Labor Department retraining grants, according to Senator Hirono's office. California has moved further than either: Governor Newsom signed laws limiting AI's role in hiring and firing and requiring notice before AI-driven displacement, though the firing-related protections lost an appeals process, the right to sue, and contractor coverage during negotiations, according to Palo Alto Online.
Kelly's odds in Congress look uncertain. One day before he introduced this bill, the Senate rejected the Ratepayer Protection Act, a related measure addressing data center electricity costs, despite it passing the House 417 to 3, according to Al Jazeera. Overwhelming House support hasn't translated into Senate action on AI economic bills this year.
For businesses, the common thread across every proposal here is the same: keep humans meaningfully involved in high-stakes employment decisions, and give workers notice before AI changes their job status. That's a reasonable internal standard to adopt now, regardless of which bill eventually passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Make AI Work for Americans Act require?
It would require companies benefiting most from AI to invest in workers and pay a fair share, offsetting AI-driven displacement.
Has any state already passed AI worker protection laws?
Yes. California limits AI's role in hiring and firing decisions and requires notice before AI-driven displacement, though some provisions were weakened before passage.
Did a related AI economic bill pass Congress recently?
No. The Senate rejected the Ratepayer Protection Act on data center electricity costs despite it passing the House 417 to 3.
Summary
Senator Mark Kelly introduced a bill requiring AI-benefiting companies to invest in displaced workers, joining federal and state efforts including a Senate study-and-grants bill and California's enacted hiring and notice protections. A related measure's failure in the Senate the day before, despite near-unanimous House support, suggests Kelly's bill faces an uphill path.