Artificial intelligence and the future of work – lessons from the sociology of expectations
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 6 October 2020
Issue publication date: 23 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
What is the future of work going to look like? The aim of this paper is to show how the sociology of expectations (SE) – which deals with the power of visions – can make important contributions in terms of thinking about this issue by critically evaluating the dominant expert positions related to the future-of-employment- and artificial intelligence (AI) debate.
Design/methodology/approach
After providing a literature review regarding SE, an approach based on the latter is applied to interpret the dominant ideal-type expert positions in the future of work debate to illustrate the value of this perspective.
Findings
Dominant future scripts can be characterized by a focus on the effects of AI technology that give agency to technology and to the future, involve the hype of expectations with polarized frames, and obscure uncertainty. It is argued that these expectations can have significant consequences. They contribute to the closing off of alternative pathways to the future by making some conversations possible, while hindering others. In order to advance understanding, more sophisticated theorizing is needed which goes beyond these positions and which takes uncertainty and the mutual shaping of technology and society into account – including the role expectations play.
Research limitations/implications
The study asserts that the dominant positions contain problematic assumptions. It makes suggestions for helping move beyond these current framings of the debate theoretically. It also argues that scenario building and backcasting are two tools that could help move forward thinking about the future of work – especially if this is done in a way so as to build strongly on SE.
Practical implications
The arguments presented herein enhance sense-making in relation to the future-of-work debate, and can contribute to policy development.
Originality/value
There is a lack of adequate exploration of the role of visions related to AI and their consequences. This paper attempts to address this gap by applying an SE approach and emphasizing the performative force of visions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author is indebted to Gyöngyvér Pataki for making comments on earlier versions of this manuscript, which helped to clarify some arguments contained in the paper. Balázs Gosztonyi gave valuable help by drawing attention to several important and relevant pieces of writing. The author wishes to thank Erzsébet Takács, Tamás Vicsek, Mária Vicsek, Tamás Bokor, Boglárka Herke, and Alexandra Köves for their suggestions. Funding: The article was written as part of a research project “Visions on Artificial Intelligence and Society,” K131733, funded by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund.
Citation
Vicsek, L. (2021), "Artificial intelligence and the future of work – lessons from the sociology of expectations", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 41 No. 7/8, pp. 842-861. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-05-2020-0174
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited