From Spring Awakenings to AI Literacy: Why Conscious Innovation is Crucial for the Works Council
The stores are filled with chocolate eggs, as Easter will arrive soon, and we cannot wait for it to come. The flavors are becoming increasingly eccentric, from Dubai pistachio to chocolate eggs filled with stewed pears. We were waiting for that—you might not have known it, but we did! Easter is the celebration of new beginnings, new life, the tradition of the ancient spring celebrations, the Resurrection of Christ, or the Jewish Pesach remembering the exodus from Egypt. They all represent new chances. And while not all changes are by choice, and some are even forced, the sunshine of this period makes them joyful.
Innovation Means Saying Goodbye to the Old
Innovation is always accompanied by a farewell to what was once there. Sometimes that brings pain and struggle, but it also comes with new challenges—just like the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and innovation in the workplace.
It is never bad advice to stand still and remind yourself (and others) why you want to change things and what the consequences will be. Being overly enthusiastic about new developments might make you forget to ask yourself this very fundamental question.
Stepping Out of the Rat Race: A Conscious Choice
In Woerden, we have an organic baker who makes (Easter) bread with ‘live’ sourdough and absolutely no additives. All the bread you buy in a standard supermarket, except for whole wheat bread (which is protected by law), is full of additives. These additives focus on lengthening shelf life, altering color (brown bread is not naturally that dark), or enhancing taste.
This baker used to work in IT and technology, but he chose something new. He wanted to make things that are of true added value to people. He carefully selects specific organic flour and butter. His bread is not cheap and therefore not accessible to everybody, but it is truly delicious and healthy. He also gives workshops on how to make bread, cookies, and pizza, and he sells the honey of his father, who is the city beekeeper.
These are not rare stories; I often hear them from people who want to escape the rat race. People who are building a tiny house, taking a sabbatical, pulling back from society (going ‘off the grid’), or searching for an alternative path in our current society. Young people, especially, increasingly do not want to work in traditional corporate structures. I’m very curious to see what kind of societal developments this will create.
Valid Concerns About the AI Hype
Similarly, there are people who don’t feel that simply joining the AI hype is a move forward. These people have valid concerns about:
- Manipulation and shifts in power
- Data privacy and security
- The hidden costs of AI for both nature and people
- Reliance on foreign Clouds and USA data policies
- Hackers leaking private information on the streets if they are not paid a ransom
They are actively looking for other tools, other models, and other manners of working, both off the grid and on.
AI Literacy: A Key Role for the Dutch Works Council
Despite these concerns, the European Union (EU) has made tackling AI illiteracy a major focus for the coming period. The goal is to ensure that everyone in the workforce receives training, knows how to use AI, and understands when to use it.
The Dutch Works Council (OR) has a highly important role to play in this transition. When management introduces new technology, the Works Council must critically assess:
- The impact on employee privacy
- The necessity and quality of a schooling/training plan
- The environmental effects of these new systems
- The safety and ownership of Intellectual Property (IP)—both the company’s and the clients’
This poses a massive challenge for companies and Works Councils in the upcoming period. You have to navigate this together.
Our recent training on AI was considered more than interesting according to the participants, and we are currently putting our focus on a comprehensive follow-up.