Lecture Discussion Questions: The Future of Work

The following discussion questions are based on todays readings / videos:

: Crawford, K. (2021). Chapter 2. Labor. In The Atlas of AI. Yale University Press.
Available via JSTOR through the UNCA library.
optional: Geissler, Heike (2018). Seasonal Associate (account of Amazon warehouse worker, ideal to read p. 9-109).
optional: Roose, Kevin (March 6, 2021). The Robots Are Coming for Phil in Accounting. New York Times
optional: Delouy, Samantha (July 25, 2023). The rise of gig workers is changing the face of the US economy. CNN.
optional: Autor, David; Mindell, David; & Reynolds, Elizabeth (2020) The Work of the Future: Building Better Jobs in an Age of Intelligent Machines. MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future.

AI & Invisible Labor

What kinds of invisible labor go into the development of AI systems? Why do you think these forms of work are often overlooked?
How does the chapter challenge the narrative of AI as being fully autonomous by highlighting the role of human labor in training, maintaining, and correcting AI systems?
What is “ghost work?” What forms does it take? What is its relationship with AI-powered systems?

What is the gig economy?
What ethical concerns arise from the global gig economy that supports AI systems, particularly regarding fair wages, working conditions, and job security?
How does the chapter connect the rise of gig work platforms, such as Amazon Mechanical Turk, to the development and training of AI systems? What are the consequences of this connection for workers?
How does the chapter’s discussion of labor challenge the way we assign value and compensation in AI-driven industries? What changes might be necessary to create a fairer system?

What are the consequences of “deskilling” labor? In other words, how does this trend help/hurt the laborer? The company? The consumer?
How has AI and automation transformed traditional labor markets? How should society adapt to these changes to ensure equitable outcomes for workers?
How can society ensure that workers are not left behind by AI-related technological shifts?