 Artificial Intelligence and the end of workWon-Yong Oh Chapter 10 in Market Capitalism and Social Responsibility, 2026, pp 160-173 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: This chapter explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on the future of work. Unlike past technological revolutions that primarily displaced manual or routine tasks, AI now encroaches upon cognitive, creative, and emotional domains, raising questions about structural unemployment and the redefinition of human skills. The analysis contrasts technological determinism, which views automation as inevitable, with social constructionism, which emphasizes human choice and institutional design. It highlights the duality of substitution and complementarity in labor markets, where predictable jobs are automated while human-centered roles in healthcare, education, and creativity are augmented. Emerging dilemmas include widening income inequality, algorithmic bias, and the erosion of identity tied to work. Proposed solutions such as universal basic income and robot taxes reflect efforts to redistribute technological gains. Ultimately, the chapter underscores that AI challenges not only employment but also the meaning of work and social cohesion. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Future of Work; Automation; Income Inequality; Algorithmic Bias; Universal Basic Income (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:25938_10 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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