Forget the AI job apocalypse. AI’s real threat is worker control and surveillance | AI (artificial intelligence)

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/11/ai-worker-control-surveillance

Publish Date: 2026-05-11 07:00:00

Source Domain: www.theguardian.com

Diverging Impacts of AI on Workers: Artificial intelligence presents a growing divide in the workforce, impacting those who augment their skills through AI and others who are subjected to AI-driven surveillance and control.
Augmentation vs. Surveillance: For higher-skilled workers, AI acts as an assistant that complements their tasks, enhancing productivity through routine management and creativity. Conversely, many lower-paid workers experience AI as a form of invasive surveillance and control through monitoring and performance management tools.
Emerging Surveillance Technology: In the UK, a significant number of employers use “bossware” to track workers’ online activities, reflecting a trend that will likely extend to more sectors globally.
Widening Inequality: The key issue is not immediate large-scale unemployment but the increasing gap in skills, autonomy, and wellbeing between workers who benefit from AI integration and those managed by it, thereby deepening social and economic inequalities.
Impact on Work’s Dignity and Wellbeing: AI-managed systems contribute to increasing workplace stress, as monitored workers feel pressured by opaque algorithms, further impacting job quality, trust, and mental wellbeing.
Lack of Fair AI Skill Development: Despite plans to expand AI skills broadly, significant preparation gaps exist among organizations to introduce AI fairly, which could exacerbate inequality.
Need for Transparent and Inclusive AI Implementation: To mitigate the growing divide, workers need access to comprehensive training and a voice in how AI technologies are adopted, ensuring AI systems are transparent and contestable.
Ongoing Workplace Decisions Shaping AI’s Role: The ongoing choices made within workplaces worldwide will determine AI’s ultimate impact on job quality, trust, and equality, underscoring the need for immediate attention to these issues.