Artificial Intelligence in the Computer-Age Threatens Human Beings and Working Conditions at Workplaces

Abstract

Due to the fact that there is a huge technological progress and automation trend in the working world in this 21st century, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only considered as a new innovative product of technological advancement for humankind but it also perceived as a new serious threat for workers during new industrial revolution in the computer-age. The main purpose of this article is to study on the effects of AI on working conditions, environments and skills at workplaces. Because of this study is considered as an exploratory research or qualitative research, data is collected by interviewing some workers in industrial sectors in South Korea and interview videos which provide some critical opinions on Industrial Revolutions, robotic trend and AI. And then the arguments are discussed and supported by the results of other academic studies. As the result of the mentioned process, it is possible to say that AI has a great influence on employment condition in the computer-age and this study can identify four significant effects on working place. One of those effects is that AI directly and indirectly hinders human-being relations in the workplace. Another effect is to destroy our working knowledge and skills which are needed for a job in the traditional working world. Additionally, AI gradually demolishes workplace engagement and organizational identity. Apart from these unexpected effects, AI is commonly perceived as a main cause leading to such a serious unemployment growth in our society. In order to cope with these new challenges which might be caused by AI and rapidly technological development at workplaces, some significant solutions are introduced including AI is created for increasing the capacity of workers rather than replacing human workers, putting obligations and responsibilities on AI which is intentionally created and used to replace human workers and law enforcement on the areas which should be fully support for developing Artificial Intelligences and which sectors cannot be allowed to be dominated by AI is necessary. The article conclusion, limitations and suggestions for the future research will be discussed in the next parts respectively.