EU AI Act

I4S 1/2026: Applied AI Ethics in the Workplace

I4S 1/2026: Applied AI Ethics in the Workplace

A shared responsibility — from radiology and speech therapy to assembly
AI ethics in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. It requires accountability from companies as a whole and conscious action from individuals—whether developers or users, managers or employees. Key issues revolve around ethical AI skills and questions of governance and employee representation. How will the world of work change, from radiology and speech therapy to assembly and quality control?
Co-Determination Dialogues

Co-Determination Dialogues

A tool for human-centered AI implementation
Manfred Wannöffel ORCID Icon, Fabian Hoose ORCID Icon, Alexander Ranft, Claudia Niewerth ORCID Icon, Dirk Stüter
As part of the regional competence center humAIne, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), a process was developed using co-determination dialogues to establish a common understanding of the challenges involved in the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) between management, employees, and interest groups. Experiences from project partner companies such as Doncasters Precision Castings in Bochum GmbH (DPC) exemplify how co-determination dialogues not only help to develop legally binding regulations for manageable, operationally anchored, sustainable AI use but also initiate continuous qualification processes for all stakeholder groups in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of the EU AI Act.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 92-98 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.84
Human-Centered AI in Companies with Employee Representation

Human-Centered AI in Companies with Employee Representation

Using the HUMAINE model for a company-specific works agreement
Alexander Ranft, Fabian Hoose ORCID Icon, Claudia Niewerth ORCID Icon, Mathias Preuß, Manfred Wannöffel ORCID Icon
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in companies poses new challenges for regulation and co-determination. Binding requirements have been in force since the 2025 EU AI Act, which must be linked nationally with the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG). The regional competence center humAine has developed a model works agreement on AI (MBV KI) in accordance with Section 77 BetrVG, which strengthens co-determination rights in companies and implements European regulations in a practical way. Flanked by co-determination dialogues, the MBV KI enables company-specific adaptation for responsible and human-centered AI use. Using selected parts of the MBV KI as examples, this article shows how a framework works agreement on AI can be designed and discusses its transferability to companies without a works council. The MBV KI presented here contributes to the sustainable, socially secure design of the digital transformation.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 14-21 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.14