Rep. Riley Moore, a former welder and West Virginia Republican, says artificial intelligence could either strengthen blue-collar work or fundamentally threaten it. He is urging lawmakers, businesses and unions to use AI as a “force multiplier” that improves safety, productivity and wages while keeping workers employed, rather than allowing automation to eliminate jobs and undermine the dignity and purpose associated with work.

Moore supports AI-assisted trucking, including systems that could act as a co-pilot to reduce crashes and protect drivers, but opposes fully automated lorries. He has discussed the issue with the Teamsters and other labour representatives, while also linking US leadership in AI to competition with China; data centres powering the technology have meanwhile become controversial in parts of his West Virginia district.