AI IS HERE ALREADY – LET’S MAKE AI WORK FOR WORKERS
THE UPSIDE - IF WORKERS ARE INVOLVED
MORE TIME FOR REAL WORK
AI can handle repetitive tasks, letting you focus on more meaningful work.
SMARTER SCHEDULING
AI can improve job planning and scheduling times and reduce stress, if done right.
REDUCE BARRIERS TO KNOWLEDGE OR SKILLS
AI can help workers gain skills by making training material accessible and flexible and recognising existing experience.
SPOTTING HAZARDS AND FAULTS
AI tools can take on tasks that are risky or time consuming for people, like: detecting equipment failures and checking safety guidelines are being followed correctly.
THE RISKS – IF WORKERS ARE LEFT OUT
JOB DISPLACEMENT
AI may replace jobs in customer service and network operations – resulting in many redundancies.
DESKILLING
A system can tell you to say or do something that you wouldn’t instinctively do. This removes your autonomy and professionalism, all to please the system.
WORKLOAD PRESSURE
AI can increase expectations and create an always-on work culture.
SURVEILLANCE
Monitoring calls, movement and performance can be invasive and without proper safeguards can impose unreasonable targets and result in unsafe working conditions.
FAIRNESS AND BIAS
AI is based on large data sets. That data doesn’t disappear and therefore if the computer learns some untruths about a
set of people those decisions may reinforce unfair treatment or discrimination.
PRIVACY ISSUES
Portable and wearable devices, tracking location and cameras, can result in invasions of privacy and home life
and contribute to the always-on culture.
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
AI is being used to make important decisions about you, without your consent.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
ASK QUESTIONS
How is AI being used in your role? What data is being collected? Can your manager explain how the technology
works?
ASK QUESTIONS
How is AI being used in your role? What data is being collected? Can your manager explain how the technology
works?
YOUR VOICE, TOGETHER
Collective action, together with your colleagues, gives you the power to shape how technology is used in the workplace.
Together, there can be a push for a collective agreement via
your Trade Union to ensure:
* SAFEGUARDS *
No AI system should be introduced without worker input, safeguards, and clear rules.
* FAIR SHARE *
Workers should be able to benefit from AI too – such as a shorter working week for no loss of pay, increased wages,
training and new skills.
