By Heather Stewart
Publication Date: 2026-05-29 10:35:00
Workers urgently need more bargaining power over the way AI is used in the workplace to ensure benefits are distributed fairly, according to a TUC-backed report from a leading think tank.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is calling for a package of measures to strengthen workers’ influence at a “pivotal moment in the history of work”.
The report cites survey data showing that while 20% of workers say AI has made their work life better, 21% say it has made it worse – and 4% believe they have already lost their jobs because of the technology.
The IPPR distinguishes between three potential impacts of technology: augmentation, when it complements human work; Demotion when it impacts the work experience, for example by being used to supervise and manage workers; and displacement, in which workers are completely replaced.
“The question is not whether AI will transform working life, but who will have the power to shape this disruption – and…
