Commentary] Service Sector Work Under Pressure From New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence – Lessons From a Number of Foresight Studies

Abstract

The use of new technologies is becoming increasingly widespread in the world of work. Robotisation in industry is well known, but there are many uses in service activities that go unnoticed because they do not involve major changes to work processes. Yet they can have a significant influence on working conditions. Other uses in the service sector are leading to major changes, the scale of which means that they are completely overhauling working methods. The example of cycle-delivered meals shows that the social context means that these new forms of work can be difficult to adapt to ensure workers' health. The increasing deployment of artificial intelligence could multiply the number of such cases in the years to come, so we need to be vigilant about the changes in the daily lives of service workers that will ensue.