Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Mapping the Ethical Issues

This article examines seven key ethical issues arising from the integration of AI in the workplace, situating them within broader philosophical and applied ethics discussions.

Overview

Authors: Filippo Santoni de Sio

Publication Date: 14 September 2024

Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10892-024-09493-6

Keywords: AI, workplace ethics, AI governance, societal impact of AI, AI and social values, future of work, AI-induced oppression, meaningful work

Type: Peer-Reviewed Article

Summary

This article examines seven key ethical issues arising from the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, situating them within broader philosophical and applied ethics discussions. First, AI's impact on job losses and the reshaping of the job market raises concerns about governance and addressing related social challenges. Second, AI may contribute to new forms of workforce oppression and rights violations. Third, its implementation risks diminishing workers’ moral agency, autonomy, and responsibility. Fourth, AI introduces the problem of hidden labor, where economically valuable tasks performed by humans go unrecognized or undercompensated, leading to unfair advantages for technology companies and increased socio-economic disparities. Fifth, AI's influence on opportunities for meaningful work sparks questions about how meaningful work should be defined in a pluralistic society. Sixth, the introduction of AI may have broader implications for societal norms and values. Finally, the issue of responsibility emerges, focusing on who should ensure that AI contributes positively to ethical and societal outcomes. Alongside these discussions, the article positions the five contributions of The Journal of Ethics special issue, "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work," within this broader ethical and philosophical context.