AI for good work

2024 –Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring a lot of good to companies, institutions and their employees. In general, AI can support work that requires proper, targeted and rapid processing of a lot of data and information. This can lead to quality and efficiency gains.

But the negative consequences or risks for the quality of work are also becoming clear slowly but surely; the main consequences are: intensification and deskilling or a reduced demand for craftsmanship among professionally trained or experienced people.

In addition, a new type of work has emerged that is governed by algorithms, platform work. There, the work is directed, planned, monitored and controlled by algorithms. To which management can attach consequences for assessment, remuneration and career.

 

In short: AI does not automatically lead to ‘good jobs’, nor to the disappearance of bad jobs, the outcome depends on organizational design and management regimes on the one hand and employee participation in decision-making and employee pressure, on the other. ‘Good jobs’ means more than wages and permanent contracts; it is also about work content and labor relations.

To manage the consequences of the digital transition, we need to have a good understanding of the technical and organizational alternatives and the power relations involved in organizational design.

 

To leverage the strengths of AI or machine learning and overcome its limitations, organizations will need to redesign workflow and rethink the division of labor between workers and machines. The resulting changes in work design will change the nature of many jobs, in some cases profoundly. But the implications for specific skill groups are still uncertain and will depend in part on management and organizational choices as well as on the participation of workers whose work is affected and not just on technologies.

 

Reference

Pot, F. (2024). AI for good work. In: A. Ponce del Castillo (ed.), Artificial intelligence, labour and society (pp. 185-197), European Trade Union Institute.

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