Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at a rapid pace, integrating into daily life and the workplace. From assistants like ChatGPT and Alexa to autocorrect features in apps like WhatsApp, AI is already an essential part of factories, offices, and workplaces. In the labor sector, algorithms influence selection processes, performance evaluations through biometric checks, task assignments, promotions, and even the automation of layoffs. During the "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work" event held at the Congress, Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz emphasized the importance of regulating the use of AI to protect jobs, reduce working hours, and increase productivity. Díaz insisted that algorithms are not neutral and must serve the social majority. Among her proposals are the extension of the rider law to other sectors, the creation of a public agency for algorithmic auditing, and the recognition of workers' rights not to train AI systems with their data. She also proposed a European automation risk indicator, tax measures to penalize the replacement of employees with AI, and tripling investment in digital transformation, advocating for a European, public, and auditable AI. José Varela, head of AI and Digitalization at UGT, reminded that there are already legal mechanisms, such as the Workers' Statute and the European AI Regulation, that require companies to inform about the use of algorithms. However, the lack of compliance renders these regulations "wet paper." Current penalties of around 2,500 euros for non-compliance are insufficient to deter companies, which often prefer not to be transparent. Varela also criticizes the lack of effective audits and warns about biases present in AI systems from external providers, which can discriminate based on gender, race, age, or family situation. Borja Adsuara, a lawyer and digital law expert, points out the existence of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA), although its activity is still limited. Esther Paniagua, a technology analyst, advocates for independent audits conducted by specialized entities, not necessarily governmental. The first quarter of 2026 has been marked by mass layoffs in multinational tech, banking, and consulting companies. According to Layoffs.fyi, over 93,000 workers have lost their jobs due to AI-related cuts, with notable cases including Oracle, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. Varela identifies four types of justifications for these layoffs: direct replacement by AI, anticipation of future automation, sectoral changes, and hidden reasons. In Spain, the ease and low cost of layoffs is a central concern for unions, which demand higher severance pay and the recovery of labor rights. Paniagua argues that AI is not directly responsible for job destruction, but rather the decisions of executives and platform designers. Additionally, AI is often used as a pretext to justify cuts motivated by economic reasons. Adsuara suggests the need for taxes on companies that replace workers with AI and highlights the importance of training in digital and AI skills, as well as labor reorientation towards sectors where human presence is essential, such as care and citizen attention. Varela adds the reduction of working hours as an alternative to layoffs. Regarding a European AI, Paniagua considers it unfeasible to compete with large commercial models but advocates for investing in open-source, ethical, and secure systems. Adsuara emphasizes the need to regulate models external to the EU and demands that companies operating in Europe comply with local regulations regarding commerce, taxation, labor, and the environment. Source: publico.es