Forget the AI ​​job apocalypse. The real threat of AI is the control and surveillance of workers

TThe real threat that artificial intelligence poses to work is not just job losses – it is the growing gap between people who use AI to expand their skills and those whose working lives are increasingly dominated by opaque, AI-powered surveillance and control systems.

The debate about artificial intelligence and its impact on workers is misplaced. On the one hand, there are warnings that machines are taking over millions of jobs. On the other hand, it is claimed that AI will increase productivity. Both stories overlook what is already happening in workplaces around the world, from Britain to Kenya to the United States.

For some, AI can help take the drudgery out of daily work. These are often people in better paid positions with greater autonomy: analysts, consultants, lawyers, academics, managers. In these jobs, AI can act as a co-pilot, provided it is used to support workers rather than replace them. It can support human judgment, speed up routine tasks and create space for…