Debate around automation and future of work often overlooks one critical element – the ghost work. These are tasks performed by humans, hidden within automated systems, to make them function. While automation can potentially eliminate certain jobs, it also creates new forms of work, often precarious and invisible. Ghost work includes tasks like content moderation, data labelling, and training artificial intelligence (AI) systems, which are essential for the functioning of automated systems.
In the face of rapid technological advancement, it’s crucial to redefine work and employment. The traditional view of employment as a full-time, permanent job is becoming less relevant. More people are now engaged in flexible, precarious work, often mediated by digital platforms.
The future of work will be shaped by the interaction between technology, institutions, and people’s actions. Automation does not simply replace human labour but transforms it. It’s essential to recognise and regulate ghost work, ensuring fair treatment and decent working conditions for all workers.
The debate about the future of work should not just focus on job loss due to automation but also consider the transformation of work and the emergence of new forms of labour. It’s time to bring the ghost work into the light and make it visible in policy debates and business strategies.
Go to source article: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2019/09/23/hidden-in-plain-sight-the-ghost-in-the-automation-and-future-of-work-debate-1/