At this event organised by King’s Business School, Dr Juan Grigera will present findings from participatory research conducted from June to November 2023, examining organised workers' responses to the introduction of various forms of artificial intelligence (AI) in Welsh workplaces by the author and Trade Union Congress.

The research, based on eight focus groups and interviews spanning 19 trade unions and seven sectors, reveals a conflation of AI and digitalisation by both workers and employers, leading to challenges in discerning AI deployment and potential consequences. It highlights variegated experiences across sectors, with AI being used for horizontal applications like HR and surveillance, raising concerns about Automated Decision Making's impact on workload, de-skilling, and biases. Despite defensive measures by unions utilizing existing laws, the study emphasizes the need to empower workers with contextualized information and strategic bargaining to mitigate risks associated with AI implementation. Overall, the research contributes insights into existing union responses, aiming to foster the exchange of effective practices and reflection on shaping AI for positive outcomes.

Speaker

Dr Juan Grigera is a Senior Lecturer in International Development at King’s College London. He completed his PhD at the University of Buenos Aires with support from CONICET (Argentina). He completed a MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. His research interests cover artificial intelligence (AI), deindustrialisation, and social conflict. Juan is the author of ‘The Diffusion of Artificial Intelligence’ (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming) and is an active member of the editorial board of Historical Materialism (London) and Cuadernos de Economía Crítica (Argentina).

This event is in-person only. Please register on Eventbrite. Registration will close at 9am on Monday 20 May.

This event is part of the King's Festival of Artificial Intelligence, running from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 May 2024.

If you’re interested in this event, you may also want to join us for:

• MERCY: Exploring the experience of justice through AI
• Beyond AI safety: can we make the AI revolution socially sustainable?
• Can, will and should machines be conscious?
• The HAL 9000 Dilemma: exploring AI-based online surveillance
• From welfare to tenant state? State-tech relations in an age of AI

Festival event times may be subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to registrants via Eventbrite emails.

Please note, King's events are free, which means we routinely overbook to allow for no-shows and avoid empty seats. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, so please arrive in good time to avoid disappointment. We will not be able to admit those without tickets or latecomers.