Too much of the talk about the future of work fails to acknowledge what that means for workers — and the critical need for employees to have the power to shape that future.  

That’s the start of a piece I wrote for the Aspen Institute’s Future of Work series. I was honored that they asked me to share perspectives and reflection for the series, now that the Irvine Foundation is eight years into our focus on California workers paid low wages. 

Particularly on my mind is the rise of generative Artificial Intelligence — the subset of AI focused on creating content — that could eliminate, remake, and create whole categories of jobs. While the growth of this technology may be unavoidable, it cannot be at the expense of workers already facing widening inequity in their power and pay.  

Workers should be at the center of discussions, policies, and practices developed and deployed related to AI. Now is a critical moment to protect workers’ rights and well-being — not vague statements or token gestures but actual policies and practices built into work informed by the very people who drive our economy. 

And philanthropy must play a role — ensuring that worker advocates have the information, capacity, and access to decision-making to shape uses of AI. If not, we will exacerbate inequalities, displace workers en masse, and concentrate economic gains in the hands of a privileged few. 

I am grateful to the Aspen Institute for this series and a chance to add our voice to it, and I encourage you to read my full piece here and read the insights of others in the series.  

Masthead photo credit: Ted Soqui