Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are entering professional, social, and civic contexts at a rapid rate. While AI is not new, the data and computing power that are now available are creating opportunities as well as threats for the future of work, with applications that were for a long time merely hypothetical. At AI@Work we will bring together scholars from disciplines that have a stake in this phenomenon, to explore how AI is impacting the present and future of work, as well as what might need to change. Each academic discipline has its own track (see below), giving space to explore local concerns. But since we see benefit in discussing relevant topics across disciplines, we will group successful submissions thematically. That way, participants will be exposed to ideas and developments from other fields, a format that is ideally suited to the interdisciplinary nature of the AI@Work phenomenon and conference.
AI is increasingly being used in the workplace to automate tasks, as well as to make personnel decisions about whom to recruit, hire, retain, promote and discipline or discharge. This implementation of AI at work has significant economic and legal implications. We invite all stakeholders (included but not limited to academics, law and policymakers, worker representatives and technology companies) to submit papers across a range of research topics relating to the economic effects and legal implications of adopting AI technologies in the workplace. We welcome a variety of research methods and disciplinary approaches, including theoretical exploration and empirical studies (both qualitative and quantitative). Possible topics could include:
The current state of computer science research considering the application of AI in social and work environments requires more socio-technical perspectives that integrate social sciences, humanities and technology. We welcome a variety of research methods and disciplinary approaches, including theoretical exploration and empirical studies (both qualitative and quantitative). We invite scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of computer science and other disciplines to present papers across a range of topics, including but not limited to the following:
We welcome papers that explore the impact of AI technologies on how professionals and organizations cope with the emergent changes in their work, and how managers and organizations respond. We welcome papers based on empirical studies (both qualitative and quantitative) as well as conceptual papers. A non-exhaustive list of relevant research topics includes:
AI plays an increasingly important role in our economy and is in fact more and more in control of us. The far-reaching digitization of labour due to AI already raises fundamental ethical and societal issues, such as job polarization and unemployment. Most of us are unprepared for this rapidly changing world of working. Should humans make a diligent effort to remain relevant in the workplace of the future? If AI/robots will take over our jobs, where do the humanities stand? We invite researchers, policy makers and representative of businesses to present papers which investigates these questions, and among others, the following questions:
Those wishing to participate in the conference by presenting a research paper/report are requested to submit an extended abstract (around 800 words) by October 18, 2019 CEST. Applicants should include their title, institutional affiliation, and indicate the division to which their work belongs (business, labour law & economics, humanities or computer science). Abstracts should be sent to submissions@reshapingwork. You may also contact Marleen Huysman (m.h.huysman@vu.nl) with any questions you may have about scholarly contributions to this conference. Notification of acceptance will be sent in the first half of November 2019.
AI@Work 2020 will take place on March 5th & 6th, 2020 in Amsterdam. For updates and practical information, please consult our website: ai.reshapingwork.net. Early-bird tickets go on sale on October 15. To ensure you stay up-to-date, please sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Twitter.