Laura Lam
Papers
1
Total Citations
9
H-Index
1
About
Laura Lam is a leading scholar at the intersection of labor, technology, and automation, whose work critically examines the evolving relationship between humans and machines. Her research centers on how artificial intelligence and robotics reshape work, particularly when automation falls short of its promises. In her highly influential paper, “Outsourcing Artificial Intelligence: Responding to the Reassertion of the Human Element into Automation” (2022), Lam challenges the Silicon Valley narrative of a workerless future, revealing how technological gaps force a reassertion of human skills to sustain autonomous systems. This work, already garnering 9 citations, has become a touchstone for scholars studying the hidden labor behind AI. Lam’s contributions illuminate the persistent, often invisible role of human workers in maintaining automated processes—what she terms the “outsourcing” of intelligence back to people. Her insights are vital for students and researchers grappling with the real-world implications of automation, offering a nuanced counterpoint to techno-optimism. Lam’s scholarship not only documents these dynamics but also advocates for a more equitable integration of human and machine labor in the future of work.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1