On 25 April 2023, a press release from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the publication of a joint statement on artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Here, automated systems are defined as software and algorithmic processes, including AI, that are used to automate workflows and help people complete tasks or make decisions.

The statement expresses a commitment from the four bodies to ensure that the use of AI does not violate the core principles of fairness, equality, and justice that are embedded in US federal laws. The statement reiterates that existing laws apply to AI and automated systems and that a lack of transparency about the system and understanding of how it works is not a valid excuse for violating laws relevant to the context the system is used in.