A study from the Institute for Work think tank suggests that exposure to new workplace technologies like trackers, robots, and AI-based software can negatively impact people’s quality of life.
The research, based on a survey of over 6,000 people, examined the well-being effects of various technologies in the workplace. The study found that increased exposure to AI-based software, surveillance devices (like trackers), and robotics correlated with poorer health and well-being.
On the other hand, the use of established information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as laptops and instant messaging had a more positive impact on well-being. The authors suggested that these technologies might contribute to job insecurity, increased workload, routine tasks, and a loss of work meaning, negatively affecting overall employee well-being.
The study emphasized the importance of considering how technologies are adopted and deployed in the workplace. The researchers used a well-established measure of quality of life, EuroQoL EQ-5D-3L, to assess factors like mobility, mental health, and pain levels.
The findings are part of the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing conducted by the IFW in collaboration with Warwick Business School and Imperial College London. The researchers highlighted the need for robust regulations to ensure that AI enhances productivity without compromising well-being.
Prof Sir Christopher Pissarides, overseeing the review, emphasized the importance of understanding how interactions with new technologies affect people’s quality of life as technology continues to integrate into the workplace.