Congressman Argues AI Can Empower Blue-Collar Workers, Not Just Replace Them

Rep. Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia and a former welder, is advocating for a nuanced approach to artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. He argues that while AI poses a significant threat to traditional blue-collar jobs, it also presents an opportunity to enhance worker safety, productivity, and earning potential.

Moore, whose district has strong ties to mining and manufacturing, has been engaging with labor groups, including the Teamsters, to discuss the implications of AI. He views the technology as a potential "force-multiplier" for workers, rather than an outright replacement.

"I started my career off as a welder and I come from a blue-collar background," Moore told Fox News Digital. "AI represents a massive potential for positive advancements in manufacturing. But it also represents potentially the nuclear bomb for work as we know it in the world."

He believes AI can extend the working life of individuals in skilled trades, reduce the risk of injury, and increase efficiency, which could lead to better-paying jobs. However, he also acknowledges the potential for AI to eliminate jobs and diminish the "dignity of work" that he sees as crucial to human purpose and societal contribution.

Moore specifically addressed the trucking industry, a sector historically reliant on union labor. While he opposes fully automated trucking, he supports integrating AI as a "co-pilot" to improve road safety and driver well-being. This approach, he suggests, could reduce accidents and enhance productivity while keeping human drivers employed.

"That creates the types of efficiencies that we're looking for, certainly, but then also respects the dignity of the human being and the worker who is involved in it," Moore stated.

The congressman's perspective echoes concerns raised by religious leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, who have likened the AI era to biblical narratives of either destructive ambition or purposeful rebuilding.

The development and deployment of AI also tie into broader national concerns, including U.S. leadership in the technology and its competition with China. Moore suggests that U.S. innovation in AI could bolster the economy and counter foreign dominance.

Moore's district, located along key commercial routes like Interstates 79 and 81, is also experiencing the growth of data centers, which power AI technologies. These facilities have become a point of contention in communities across the country, with debates centering on energy consumption, water usage, and local environmental impact. Moore emphasized the importance of local input in deciding whether data centers should be established in a community, asserting that Republicans support federalism and local decision-making.

"I think as a Republican, we certainly believe in federalism and allow those communities to be able to have input of whether they're going to have a data center in their backyard or not," he said.