Preparing American workers to develop, operate, and work alongside artificial intelligence is the goal of a bill introduced last month in the House of Representatives.
Titled “To promote a 21st century artificial intelligence workforce”, H.R. 4498 requires the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the National Science Foundation to prepare a report on artificial intelligence and its impact on the workforce of the United States.
The bill spells out a list of required information, including:
- An identification of the specific data relating to the workforce.
- Identification of industries and occupations projected to have the most growth in artificial intelligence use.
- Identification of opportunities for workers.
- Analysis of which demographics currently stand to experience expanded career opportunities due to artificial intelligence.
- Analysis of the skills, expertise, and education needed to develop, operate, or work alongside artificial intelligence over the next two decades.
The bill underscores the potential of AI to both disrupt jobs and to provide an opportunity for growth and worldwide competition. The bill notes that it is imperative that we make plans now to ensure future opportunities.
The short title of the bill is ‘‘Jobs of the Future Act of 2023’’. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2).
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce and to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Whether it will ever see the light of day is anyone’s guess.