BIG TRENDS
Digital technology is challenging work as we know it. These technologies are not just new more effective work tools, they are a foundation of a new work regime. There are four powerful trends that converge to challenge our traditional understanding of work and employment:
AI and automation are revolutionizing what we do at work. As machines become more capable of handling both routine and complex tasks, the very content of our jobs is evolving, creating new roles while transforming existing ones.
Remote work that went mainstream during the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined when and where work happens. The office is no longer just a place – it is become a function that can be performed from almost anywhere, blurring the lines between work and home while opening new possibilities and challenges for work-life integration.
The platformization of work is changing how employment relationships are structured. The rise of gig economy and freelancer platforms is creating entirely new forms of work, introducing both unprecedented flexibility and new forms of precarity in the labor market.
Digital surveillance and algorithmic management are transforming who holds power in the workplace and how that power affects human dignity. As algorithms increasingly monitor, evaluate, and direct work, critical questions arise about autonomy, privacy, and the right to dignified work. The design of these systems, whether they treat workers as numbers to be optimized or as human beings deserving of respect, has profound implications for who will hold the power in the future workplace.
These trends are not just abstract future possibilities, they are actively reshaping our working lives today. Understanding them is crucial for ensuring these transformations lead to better outcomes for all workers. They challenge the established order, but it does not mean that they guide us to a single, pre-determined direction. The questions of what, when, where, how and who of work are open. The potential futures need to be identified, studied and evaluated. We at Futures with(out) work see it as our core mission.
FUTURES
“Technology is neither good, nor bad; nor is it neutral” – Kranzberg’s First Law
Technologies present us with many contradictions. While they promise to enhance our lives in countless ways, they also introduce new challenges and potential risks. This is particularly true about digital technology that have become deeply woven into nearly every aspect of our lives. Still, it is important to understand that technology itself does not determine our future. Rather than viewing technological progress as an inevitable march toward either a utopia or a dystopia, we should recognize that society has the power to proactively shape how these tools are developed and used. Our research focuses on exploring how digital technologies can help create positive futures with(out) work. We investigate both scenarios where work remains central to human life and where alternative arrangements might emerge. In this exploration, we remain mindful of potential dangers of technology, and seek ways to address them.