SIOP Endorses AI Workforce Bill

SIOP recently endorsed the Workforce for AI Trust Act, a bill that promotes a multidisciplinary workforce that can advance the development and training of trustworthy AI systems. It will do so by leveraging existing artificial intelligence, education, and workforce programs and activities at the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In its letter of support, SIOP noted the inclusion of a provision that would initiate an interdisciplinary AI fellowship that would support students and postdoctoral researchers, including those in social science disciplines and the humanities, to engage in activities that promote the integration of ethical and responsible practices across the spectrum of AI systems development from design to implementation and evaluation. SIOP was also interested to see that the bill would amend the National Institute Standards and Technology (NIST) Risk Management Framework (RMF) to include language that would “support technical standards and guidance” on workforce development education and training activities related to AI risk management.

“As AI governance tools are established, we will need to consider how such tools are used in the workplace responsibly, and the need for a technical workforce that can ensure safe use of these tools will grow,” the letter said. “SIOP is supportive of cultivating a well-rounded AI workforce, including those who can test and validate AI systems to mitigate risk posed by such systems.”

More information can be found in the full bill.

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Frank Lucas (R-OK), members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the bill.

The list of current endorsers of the bill includes:

• Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI)
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Center for AI Policy
• Google
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
• Humane Intelligence
• Institute for Progress (IFP)
• SeedAI
• Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) 

Related Reading
In 2023, SIOP’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Assessments released its Considerations and Recommendations for the Validation and Use of AI-Based Assessments for Employee Selection.