Superpowers, states and companies around the world are all pushing hard to win the AI race. Artificial intelligence (AI) is of strategic importance for the EU, with the European Commission recently stating that ‘artificial intelligence with a purpose can make Europe a world leader’. Europe can only become a global digital leader if it remains faithful to its fundamental rights, social dialogue and tripartite participation, which is why workers, through trade unions, have to be at the table of negotiations and contribute to the co-creation of both national and a European AI strategy. Seven dimensions in particular should be discussed when such negotiations take place.