AIToday
Fortune AIPublished: Jun 5, 2026, 22:00 JST

AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler argues unions can drive AI economy success through worker partnerships instead of corporate-led development

AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler argues unions can drive AI economy success through worker partnerships instead of corporate-led development

3 Key Points

  1. Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO (a federation of 65 unions representing 15 million workers), told Fortune that companies can either develop AI "pedal to the metal, slash and burn, no voice, no inclusion" or "partner together, get workers in the lab and develop technology" with input from people who do the work.

  2. The AFL-CIO partnered with Microsoft in December 2023 after Shuler and Microsoft President Brad Smith found common ground on preparing workers for innovation; they now partner in areas like training and policies for responsible AI.

  3. AFL-CIO has been fighting the Trump Administration on union-busting executive orders, DOGE cuts, ICE raids, Labor Secretary appointments, cuts to healthcare coverage, and ongoing attacks on the right to bargain, strike and organize. U.S. workers are taking home a record-low percentage of GDP as corporate profits soar.

Not sure about something? Ask the AI

Questions and answers are published on this page.

Summaries like this, in your inbox every morning.

AI news that matters for your work, delivered every morning.

Pick your industry and the AI tools you use, and get news related to your work every day.

Free · 30 seconds with Google · unsubscribe anytimeWhat is AIToday? →

Ask AI

Ask AI anything about this article. The AI reads this article, earlier AIToday articles, and Wikipedia, and cites its sources. Q&As are published on this page for other readers too.

Questions and answers are published on this page.

Next articleApple has designed camera-equipped AirPods to allow Siri to see the wearer's surroundings, but an anonymous source tells WIRED the company will likely delay them because Siri's visual intelligence is not ready and executives worry about privacy risks.