Catherwood LibraryILR School

The CES Technology trade show in Las Vegas, hosted by the Consumer Technology Association, demonstrated various new AI technologies in the restaurant and entertainment industry. These technologies included robot chefs, baristas, and service workers that were powered by AI, and these innovations may threaten many positions in these various industries. Workers in Las Vegas have expressed fear that their jobs will soon be replaced by AI machines and robots. The Culinary Workers Union, which represented thousands of hospitality workers in Las Vegas, recently reached a new union contract with the management of several hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. The parties had participated in negotiations for the past eight months, and the agreement was reached right before historic strike action was taken. A major issue between the parties was the use of AI, and the union demanded greater worker protections against AI. In the new contract, workers will receive severance pay if their job is lost to AI machines, and affected employees will also be provided the opportunity to switch to different departments within the company.