AI governance under the second Trump administration: implications for labour

This commentary examines the emerging body of rules, policies and practices governing the development, adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the United States, and its implications for work and workers. At the federal level, the United States has so far pursued a strategy based on export controls and a relatively permissive regulatory environment with a patchwork of measures to promote responsible AI innovation and use. As the second Trump administration now begins to implement plans to entirely overhaul frameworks adopted under President Biden, however, the situation is more volatile. Major initiatives designed to hold employers accountable and prevent harms to workers, including Biden’s flagship Executive Order, are no longer in place. While some progress can be observed at the state level, many proposals for legislation to strengthen workers’ rights in relation to AI have stalled. A conservative majority in the Supreme Court meanwhile lays the ground for further rulings that could undermine the power of organised labour. Despite these enormous challenges, workers are increasingly regarding AI adoption and use as a site of collective struggle. Alongside jurisdiction case reports on China, Canada, Brazil, India and the EU, the following discussion of the US’s AI regulation, development and governance approaches today is part of the Artificial Intelligence Policy Observatory for the World of Work (AIPOWW) symposium.