Task Force Feels AI Could Transform Future of Work in Wisconsin

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio) Artificial intelligence could transform the future of work in Wisconsin, but state leaders hope to help the technology expand in a way that protects workers and fills existing gaps in the labor force.

According to Joe Schulz with Wisconsin Public Radio, a state task force composed of state agency officials, industry leaders, representatives from organized labor and education officials wrapped up months of work around that issue last week.

Its final advisory action plan includes policy recommendations around artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education, government, workforce development and economic development.

Those recommendations are aimed at creating pathways for workers to gain AI skills, boosting competition for Wisconsin companies and encouraging ethical decision-making related to the technology.

Gov. Tony Evers’ office says the proposals in the action plan include efforts to expand digital literacy, develop flexible training programs, improve government service and incentivize industry adoption of artificial intelligence.

Those proposals may be included in Evers’ next two-year state budget proposal, but individual state agencies may include specific investments in their funding requests as well.

Somesh Jha, a computer science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching artificial intelligence, said the rapid development of AI is expected to lead to more efficiencies in the workplace.

But he said it could also lead to job losses in some industries, as well as lead to the creation of new jobs. He praised the task force for taking on “questions, like, ‘okay, what are we doing now that can be done much more efficiently using AI?

And what new positions which we might need, given that new capability?’” State Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek, who chaired the task force, said the work around AI came as Wisconsin has experienced record-low unemployment with more job openings than people looking to fill those positions.

She said birth rates in the state have been low since the baby boom after World War II, and net migration isn’t bringing enough people to Wisconsin to help address the labor shortage.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.