The Autonomous Framework Agreement on Digitalisation (AFA) was signed on 22 June 2020, during the COVID pandemic emergency, between the main European associations of public and private employers and employees (BusinessEurope, SMEunited, CEEP and ETUC). The principal objective of the AFA is to set up a common reference basis for all EU countries to define shared ways of dealing with the challenges of digitalisation in the world of work.

The contents of the Agreement should be implemented in accordance with the specific procedures and practices of the social partners in the Member States.

Use and control of artificial intelligence

One of the issues considered by EU social partners in the AFA process is the use and control of artificial intelligence (AI).

Considering the increasing use of this technology in a wide variety of sectors, the parties are committed to governing their deployment in the organisation of work by maintaining a well-defined human-machine relationship centred on the human-in-control approach. The aim of the parties is to create a win-win relationship between employers/workers and AI, geared towards increasing the productivity of both sides, distributing tasks as evenly as possible and enhancing those whose execution requires human input.

The AF also identifies three essential elements for a reliable AI:

• the legitimacy, transparency and fairness of its use while respecting the fundamental rights of workers and the principle of non-discrimination;
• its ethical use, respecting the human rights established by European legislation;
• its technical and social sustainability.

Therefore, while Artificial Intelligence systems and solutions can bring benefits, such as increasing the productivity of the enterprise and the welfare of the workforce, they must also be properly managed by balancing the potential of technologies with the human dimension.

Artificial intelligence could be a tool at the service/availability of the human being. But what can make the difference is how it is used: effective and quality use, but also ethical use guided by purpose.

These principles underpin craftsmanship, which is characterised by its ability to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, communication, co-creativity and empathy. Consciousness and free will are qualities that only human beings possess. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, does what it is told; therefore, it is crucial to know what to ask from a machine. For this, in a time dominated by artificial intelligence, where machines and algorithms seem to replace human wisdom, it is necessary to continue to develop the value of craftsmanship.

craftsmanship is the opposite of standardisation; it is the ability to manipulate materials and transform them into an object that has a history and an identity. If artificial intelligence can analyse data and produce results at an unthinkable speed, it is craftsmanship that can bring into products and services those values of authenticity and excellence that are the basis of European products.

Promoting and supporting crafts and small businesses can therefore be the starting point for building a sustainable economic and social future that never loses sight of the human dimension.