Opinion: Public Workers in the Bay Area Lay the Groundwork for AI Rules
A nurse flags that the AI transcription system is putting wrong words in her notes, and no one in charge wants to hear it. A benefits caseworker watches a family get cut off by an algorithm he doesn’t have the authority to override. These aren’t hypotheticals; they are happening right now in hospitals, courthouses, and government offices across California.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping our workplaces, public services, and communities. But who benefits and who pays the price remains an open question. The answer depends on choices being made right now, including in Santa Clara County.
Advocacy for Public Workers
Public workers represent and advocate for communities at the intersection of economic justice and emerging technology. They are tired of the same playbook: deploy fast, skip worker input, call it innovation, and when things go wrong, let workers and residents absorb the damage. This has been evident when staffers used an AI tool that recommended cutting services veterans depend on, and every time a system denies benefits or misreads a courtroom transcript, the frontline worker gets blamed for a failure they cannot prevent.
The Role of Frontline Employees
Frontline public employees are not obstacles to technological progress; they are its most important quality-control system. For instance, the nurse who catches the wrong transcription and the caseworker who understands a family’s file. When workers are excluded from the design and implementation of these systems, failures occur, leading to real consequences for the public. It’s not just the workers who suffer; it’s patients and families navigating systems unaware of how decisions are made.
Opportunities for Change
In Santa Clara County, there is an opportunity to do things differently. On March 24, the Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisor Margaret Abe Koga with support from county labor unions, ordered a comprehensive study on AI use across county departments. This aims to set guidelines so future technology solutions improve jobs rather than replace them. They also committed to co-designing AI systems with workers, ensuring human review, and guaranteeing the right to appeal.
Building on a Foundation
Now, it is crucial to build on this foundation by establishing clear rules and oversight for technology affecting civil rights, public services, and equal opportunities. This includes protecting employee and resident data and ensuring algorithms do not make decisions about wages, discipline, or hiring without accountability and transparency.
Polls indicate that Americans overwhelmingly support regulating AI across party lines and generations. The public desires reasonable regulation: responsible deployment with their interests in mind, not just those of a trillion-dollar industry selling to governments.
Community Engagement and Worker Advocacy
Unions and community organizations are stepping up to fill the void left by the absence of federal policy. In San Jose, AFSCME Local 101 and IFPTE Local 21 are advocating for AI safeguards through contract negotiations, including a joint oversight committee to review new systems before deployment. Employees of the Valley Transportation Authority recently secured a voice in how new technology is adopted. Workers are not at the table to slow down progress; they aim to ensure that progress benefits working families.
The Ripple Effect of Santa Clara County’s Decisions
What Santa Clara County decides in the coming months will not remain confined to its borders. The precedents set regarding transparency, worker voice, and accountability will have far-reaching impacts. This is not a burden but an opportunity—a moment to demonstrate that the most innovative thing a government can do is prioritize its people.
