The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has unveiled a new AI Manifesto for Creative Workers, aimed at safeguarding the rights of creative professionals as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the industry.
The manifesto highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and ethical use of AI technologies. It calls on tech companies to disclose how AI systems are trained and deployed, ensuring creative workers can make informed decisions about their work and data. Central to the TUC’s message is the importance of consent and agency, allowing individuals to control how their contributions are used in AI systems.
Emphasising the irreplaceable value of human creativity, the manifesto insists that AI should complement rather than replace human input. It also calls for robust protection of intellectual property rights and fair compensation for creative contributions, including benefit-sharing arrangements where workers profit from the gains of AI tools trained on their work.
The TUC urges AI to be designed "for and by" creative workers, advocating for greater involvement in technology design and deployment. Investment in digital literacy and sector-specific AI training is also prioritized to equip workers for the evolving technological landscape.
Collective representation forms another pillar of the manifesto, with a strong emphasis on union involvement in AI-related decisions. It also stresses the need for collaboration across industries to protect cultural diversity and prevent the homogenization of creative content.
The TUC is encouraging creative workers to protect themselves by carefully reviewing contracts, joining unions, advocating for stronger AI regulation, and leveraging AI tools strategically to enhance their work. Staying informed about employment law changes will also be critical to navigating the future AI-driven workplace.
As the government and trade unions continue to debate AI regulation, the TUC’s manifesto offers a vital blueprint for ensuring that creative workers' rights are not left behind in the rush toward automation.
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