America's AI in the workplace policy.

Hearing from Keith Sonderling: Deputy Secretary of Labor.

I’ve had an academic and day job interest in how policy shapes technology and the other way around for ages. The history of the software industry can’t be understood without understanding the role of government policy. While the first business software was invented in the UK, the US industry took off, in a large part because of better policy, or the absence of one in the UK.

Our fund spends a lot of time looking at how AI impacts work and work systems. How is work changing because of technology? How do employers and employees respond? What skills will we need? What opportunities does this create for investment? How do we build AI that is fair? How do existing employment laws work, how will new laws change how software evolves?

Governments play a vital role in the employment space, defining many of rules, incentives, disincentives, regulations and so on.

We met Keith Sonderling several years ago, when he was the commissioner at the EEOC. As well as being a top-notch legal mind, he is deep into understanding the role of AI and HR technology in the workplace. At the EEOC, he didn’t sit in his office, he got out and engaged with the HR practitioners and HR tech community. He’s appeared at HR tech conferences, on podcasts and more. He is able to explain the risks and opportunities for AI in the workplace cogently. A deeply tech-savvy regulator.

Here’s a paper he co-authored a couple of years ago.

Keith is now the United States Deputy Secretary of Labor. This means he the second-highest ranking official in the department and serves as the Department's Chief Operating Officer.

Keith will be speaking at the Acadian Ventures CEO Summit on the 22nd May. It will be fascinating opportunity to learn about policy and more.

If you are a founder, CEO or investor in the future of work space, you can still apply to attend. The rest of the agenda is looking pretty great too. The room block on the hotel expires today.

As usual I’ll end with song. Future Islands.