Congress Proposes New Safety Nets for AI Job Losses
U.S. lawmakers are introducing legislation to expand unemployment insurance and mandate corporate reporting as artificial intelligence threatens mass layoffs.
Members of the U.S. Congress are introducing legislation to strengthen the national economic safety net to mitigate potential mass layoffs caused by artificial intelligence. Senator Ron Wyden proposed the Stability and Opportunity for Workers Act, which would expand unemployment insurance and provide up to 26 weeks of additional assistance for technology-displaced workers to acquire new skills.
Bipartisan efforts led by Senators Josh Hawley and Mark Warner seek to mandate more robust corporate reporting on AI-related layoffs. Other Democratic proposals include taxing technology profits to fund infrastructure and worker training. While AI companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI have expressed support for public benefit funds, other firms are funding tech-friendly candidates in midterm elections.
Republicans, following the lead of President Donald Trump, have generally maintained a hands-off approach to AI regulation to avoid disrupting industry investment.
