Summary: The US Securities and Exchange Commission has ruled that Apple and Disney cannot avoid shareholder votes on their use of artificial intelligence (AI), as proposed by a labor group. The companies had requested to exclude the proposal from their annual meetings, but the SEC rejected their requests. The labor union federation AFL-CIO filed the similar shareholder proposals at four other technology companies, including Microsoft.
According to the labor group, companies need to adopt ethical guidelines and be transparent about their use of AI technology. They emphasized that AI systems should not be trained on copyrighted works or the voices and performances of professional performers without proper consent, transparency, and compensation.
Brandon Rees, deputy director of AFL-CIO’s office of investment, stated that Apple and Disney have not addressed the ethical issues surrounding AI usage, unlike other companies like Microsoft. He believes that these recent SEC rulings could lead to agreements with Apple and Disney that align with the AI disclosures of other companies.
Apple and Disney argued that the proposals were related to ordinary business operations and should not be included on the ballots. However, the SEC disagreed, stating that the proposals go beyond ordinary matters and do not seek to micromanage the companies.
Apple and Disney have not yet commented on the SEC’s decision.
Title: Labor Group’s AI Proposal Secures Shareholder Votes at Apple and Disney
Amid concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative and professional workers, a labor group’s proposal on AI usage has been accepted by both Apple and Disney. The US Securities and Exchange Commission rejected requests by the companies to exclude the proposal from their upcoming annual meetings.
In line with the labor group’s demands, Apple will have to disclose its use of AI technology in business operations and provide details of any ethical guidelines adopted regarding AI usage. Similarly, Disney will be required to report on its board’s oversight of AI usage.
The labor group, AFL-CIO, has emphasized the importance of transparency and ethical considerations when it comes to AI systems. They have called for proper consent, compensation, and transparency in the use of copyrighted works, voices, likenesses, and performances of professional performers in AI training.
Brandon Rees, deputy director of AFL-CIO’s office of investment, has hailed the SEC’s decision as a potential stepping stone towards bringing Apple and Disney in line with other companies’ AI disclosures, specifically mentioning Microsoft. Rees believes that Apple and Disney have yet to address the ethical issues surrounding AI.
Both Apple and Disney had argued that the proposals were ordinary business matters and should not be included on the ballots. However, the SEC disagreed, stating that the proposals go beyond ordinary matters and do not intend to micromanage the companies.
Apple and Disney have not responded to requests for comment regarding the SEC’s ruling.
The source of the article is from the blog krama.net