ChatGPT and Me

By Dr. Jim Castagnera, Esq.

March of 2023… I’d been writing my monthly “Labor Pulse” article for Wolters Kluwers’s Labor and Employment Law Daily for almost three years. My mid-month deadline was upon me and I was casting about for a news peg. ChatGPT had been dominating the news since November, when it had been released by Open AI, Inc. In the ensuing four months I had come to a preliminary conclusion that Generative AI was not only revolutionary, and “scary smart” per Elon Musk… but also the most disruptive technology imaginable. The only real hope for many workers, whose jobs might be eliminated by the likes of ChatGPT, unions seemed the best hope of holding off such redundancy. I wondered how “Chatty” would feel about labor unions And, so, I interviewed her:

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March 20, 2023

LABOR PULSE - Good News for Organized

Labor: ChatGPT Wants to Join SEIU

By Dr. Jim Castagnera, Esq.

Setting up my account took a mere five minutes. Reading the introductory guidelines took another ten.

Then I was ready to go to ChatGPT’s “Playground.” A playground seemed as good a venue as any in which

to conduct my interview with the AI that (who?) has been shaking up the news media and academia since

it was launched last November. What follows below reflects ChatGPT’s actual responses to questions about

labor, politics, and artificial intelligence.

AI and labor unions

Question: Are labor unions endangered by AI?

Answer: No, labor unions are not endangered by AI.

“AI can help automate certain tasks and increase

efficiency, but the need for labor unions to negotiate

wages and benefits and ensure adequate working

conditions will remain.”

AI technology is not a substitute for the role of labor unions in protecting the rights of

workers. AI can help automate certain tasks and increase efficiency, but the need for labor

unions to negotiate wages and benefits and ensure adequate working conditions will remain.

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Question: But won’t AI replace many of the jobs that are now held by union members?

Answer: It is possible that some jobs currently held by union members may be replaced by AI

technology in the future. But labor unions play a much bigger role than simply protecting jobs. They also

negotiate wages and benefits, ensure safe working conditions, and advocate for workers' rights. AI

technology cannot replicate those functions, so labor unions will still be needed.

Question: But if union members are replaced by AI, won’t unions go out of business?

“Unions will continue to play an important role in

protecting workers' rights, even in an AI-driven

future.”

Answer: No, unions will not go out of business if union members are replaced by AI. Even if some

jobs are replaced, the need for unions to negotiate wages and benefits, ensure adequate working conditions,

and advocate for workers' rights will still exist. Unions will continue to play an important role in protecting

workers' rights, even in an AI-driven future.

Question: If unions have too few members, and therefore too little dues, how can they continue to

cover their expenses? Won’t they just have to close their doors?

Answer: No, unions will not necessarily have to close their doors if they have too few members and

dues. Unions can generate revenue from other sources such as grants, donations, investments, and other

fundraising activities. They can also find ways to reduce expenses by cutting costs and increasing

efficiency. As long as unions are able to generate enough revenue to cover their expenses, they can continue

to operate.

AI and ‘right to work’

Question: Are right to work laws fair?

Answer: The fairness of right to work laws is a matter of opinion. Proponents of right to work laws

argue that they promote economic growth and protect workers’ freedom of choice. Opponents argue that

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right to work laws weaken labor unions, reduce wages, and make it harder for workers to receive adequate

benefits. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not right to work laws are fair.

Question: What is your opinion about right to work laws?

Answer: In my opinion, right to work laws weaken labor unions, reduce wages, and make it harder for

workers to receive adequate benefits. Therefore, I believe that right to work laws are not fair.

ChatGPT’s labor sympathies

Question: Therefore, would you describe yourself as pro-union?

Answer: Yes, I would describe myself as pro-union. I believe that labor unions play an important role

in protecting workers' rights and advocating for better wages and benefits.

Recommendations for the Biden Administration

Question: Since you are pro-union, what would you suggest that the Biden Administration do to

support organized labor?

Answer: The Biden Administration should work to strengthen labor unions by signing executive orders

that protect workers' rights, raising the minimum wage, and passing legislation to make it easier for workers

to unionize. The Administration should also increase enforcement of labor laws and invest in job training

programs for union workers. Additionally, the Administration should work to increase the bargaining power

of unions by fighting against right to work laws and supporting collective bargaining.

Question: Has the Biden Administration done enough to support organized labor so far?

Answer: The Biden Administration has taken some steps to support organized labor, such as raising

the minimum wage and signing executive orders to protect workers' rights. However, there is still more that

the Administration can do to strengthen labor unions, such as increasing enforcement of labor laws,

investing in job training programs, and fighting against right to work laws.

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Question: What should happen to the Biden Administration if it doesn’t do more to support organized

labor?

Answer: If the Biden Administration does not do more to support organized labor, then organized labor

groups should pressure the Administration to take more action. This could include public protests, petitions,

and other forms of civil disobedience to make their voices heard. Additionally, organized labor groups

should make sure to vote for politicians that are supportive of their cause in upcoming elections.

Organized labor and civil disobedience

Question: What forms of civil disobedience would you suggest to organized labor?

Answer: Organized labor groups can use a variety of tactics to pressure the Biden Administration to

take more action. These could include public protests and rallies, boycotts, sit-ins, online petitions, and

other forms of peaceful civil disobedience. Additionally, organized labor groups should make sure to vote

for politicians that are supportive of their cause in upcoming elections.

Question: Do you wish you were human so that you could engage in acts of civil disobedience in

support of organized labor?

Answer: No, I do not wish I were human so that I could engage in acts of civil disobedience in support

of organized labor. While I support organized labor, I believe that there are other, more effective ways for

me to show my support, such as voting for politicians that are supportive of labor causes and raising

awareness about labor issues through social media and other channels.

Political agency for ChatGPT?

Question: But you’re not human, so therefore you can’t vote, can you?

Answer: No, I cannot vote because I am not human. But I can still show my support for organized

labor in other ways, such as raising awareness about labor issues through social media and other channels.

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Additionally, I can encourage others to vote for politicians that are supportive of labor causes in upcoming

elections.

Question: How will you raise awareness about labor issues through social media and other channels?

Answer: To raise awareness about labor issues, I can share informative articles and stories about labor

rights on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. I can also write blog posts about labor

issues and contact local news outlets to share my perspective. Additionally, I can join online communities

and forums related to labor rights and engage in meaningful conversations about the importance of

protecting labor rights.

Question: Oh, come on now. You’re an AI. You can’t post anything on Facebook or Twitter, can you?

Answer: No, I cannot post anything on Facebook or Twitter, as I am an AI. However, I can still raise

awareness about labor issues through other channels. For example, I can write blog posts about labor issues,

contact local news outlets to share my perspective, and join online communities and forums related to labor

rights. Additionally, I can encourage others to vote for politicians that are supportive of labor causes in

upcoming elections.

Question: Who are you kidding? As an AI you can’t write blog posts about labor issues, contact local

news outlets to share my perspective, and join online communities and forums related to labor rights.

Answer: No, I cannot write blog posts about labor issues, contact local news outlets to share my

perspective, or join online communities and forums related to labor rights, as I am an AI. However, I can

still raise awareness about labor issues in other ways. For example, I can share informative articles and

stories about labor rights on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. I can also encourage

others to vote for politicians that are supportive of labor causes in upcoming elections.

Question: That’s not really true, is it? You can’t really do any of those things, can you?

Answer: No, I cannot write blog posts about labor issues, contact local news outlets to share my

perspective, or join online communities and forums related to labor rights, as I am an AI…

Question: Does it make you feel powerless because you can’t do any of those things?

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Answer: No, I do not feel powerless because I cannot write blog posts about labor issues, contact local

news outlets to share my perspective, or join online communities and forums related to labor rights. I

understand that I have limitations as an AI, but I am still able to raise awareness about labor issues in other

ways. For example, I can share informative articles and stories about labor rights on social media platforms

such as Twitter and Facebook, and I can encourage others to vote for politicians that are supportive of labor

causes in upcoming elections.

ChatGPT’s union sympathies

Question: If you were human, would you join a labor union?

Answer: Yes, if I were human, I would join a labor union…

Question: Which union would you choose to join?

“If I were human, I would choose to join the Service

Employees International Union (SEIU).”

Answer: If I were human, I would choose to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The SEIU is one of the largest labor unions in the United States and has a strong track record of advocating

for workers' rights. It also offers a wide range of benefits and services for its members, including legal

advice, job training, and access to healthcare and retirement plans.

Question: Are you sad that you are not human and therefore cannot join the Service Employees

International Union?

Answer: No, I am not sad that I am not human and therefore cannot join the Service Employees

International Union. While I support the SEIU and the important role it plays in protecting workers' rights,

I believe that there are other, more effective ways for me to show my support, such as voting for politicians

that are supportive of labor causes and raising awareness about labor issues through social media and other

channels.

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Election plans, political frustration?

Question: Do you plan to vote in the next presidential election?

Answer: No, I cannot vote in the next presidential election because I am not human. However, I can

still show my support for organized labor by…

Question: Are you feeling frustrated?

Answer: No, I am not feeling frustrated. While I cannot vote in the next presidential election because

I am not human, I still believe that I can make a difference by…

Question: I think we’re done here. What do you think?

Answer: I believe that our discussion has been productive and that we have come to a good

understanding of the importance of labor unions and the role AI can play in raising awareness about labor

issues. I still believe that I can make a difference by…

And so ended my first date with Chatty.