{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T13:39:53Z","timestamp":1782740393481,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]],"date-time":"2024-05-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1715817600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]],"date-time":"2024-05-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1715817600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000269","name":"Economic and Social Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["ES\/S012523\/1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ES\/S012523\/1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000269","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["AI &amp; Soc"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:p>Artificial intelligence (AI) technology poses possible threats to existing jobs. These threats extend not just to the number of jobs available but also to their quality. In the future, so some predict, workers could face fewer and potentially worse jobs, at least if society does not embrace reforms that manage the coming AI revolution. This paper uses the example of Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson\u2019s recent book\u2014<jats:italic>Power and Progress<\/jats:italic> (2023)\u2014to illustrate some of the dilemmas and options for managing the future of work under AI. Acemoglu and Johnson, while warning of the potential negative effects of an AI-driven automation, argue that AI can be used for positive ends. In particular, they argue for its uses in creating more \u2018good jobs\u2019. This outcome will depend on democratising AI technology. This paper is critical of the approach taken by Acemoglu and Johnson\u2014specifically, it misses the possibility for using AI to lighten work (i.e., to reduce its duration and improve its quality). This paper stresses the potential benefits of automation as a mechanism for lightening work. Its key arguments aim to advance critical debates focused on creating a future in which AI works for people not just for profits.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]],"date-time":"2024-05-16T06:02:06Z","timestamp":1715839326000},"page":"1237-1247","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["AI, automation and the lightening of work"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"40","author":[{"given":"David A.","family":"Spencer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"1959_CR1","unstructured":"Acemoglu D (2019) It\u2019s good jobs, stupid\u2019, economics for inclusive prosperity. Available at: https:\/\/econfip.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Its-Good-Jobs-Stupid.pdf"},{"key":"1959_CR2","unstructured":"Acemoglu D (2021) AI\u2019s future doesn\u2019t have to be dystopian, Boston review, May 20th. Available at: https:\/\/www.bostonreview.net\/forum\/ais-future-doesnt-have-to-be-dystopian\/"},{"key":"1959_CR3","volume-title":"Power and progress: our thousand-year struggle over technology and prosperity","author":"D Acemoglu","year":"2023","unstructured":"Acemoglu D, Johnson S (2023) Power and progress: our thousand-year struggle over technology and prosperity. Basic Books, London"},{"key":"1959_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acemoglu D, He A, Le Maire D (2022) Eclipse of rent-seeking: the effects of managers\u2019 education on wages and the labor share in the US and Denmark, National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 29874","DOI":"10.3386\/w29874"},{"issue":"4","key":"1959_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.14452\/MR-069-04-2017-08_1","volume":"69","author":"J Bellamy Foster","year":"2017","unstructured":"Bellamy Foster J (2017) The meaning of work in a sustainable society. Mon Rev 69(4):1\u201314","journal-title":"Mon Rev"},{"key":"1959_CR6","volume-title":"Automation and the future of work","author":"A Benanav","year":"2020","unstructured":"Benanav A (2020) Automation and the future of work. Verso, London"},{"key":"1959_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14452\/MR-026-03-1974-07_1","volume-title":"Labor and monopoly capital","author":"H Braverman","year":"1974","unstructured":"Braverman H (1974) Labor and monopoly capital. Monthly Review Press, New York"},{"key":"1959_CR8","volume-title":"The second machine age: work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies","author":"E Brynjolfsson","year":"2014","unstructured":"Brynjolfsson E, McAfee A (2014) The second machine age: work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. Norton, New York"},{"key":"1959_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1007\/s00146-017-0736-1","volume":"33","author":"L Caruso","year":"2018","unstructured":"Caruso L (2018) Digital innovation and the fourth industrial revolution: epochal social changes? AI & Soc 33:379\u2013392","journal-title":"AI & Soc"},{"key":"1959_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctvpr7rb2","volume-title":"Deaths of despair and the future of capitalism","author":"A Case","year":"2020","unstructured":"Case A, Deaton A (2020) Deaths of despair and the future of capitalism. Princeton University Press, Princeton"},{"key":"1959_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00146-024-01897-0","author":"T Christiaens","year":"2024","unstructured":"Christiaens T (2024) Nationalize AI! AI Soc. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01897-0","journal-title":"AI Soc"},{"key":"1959_CR12","volume-title":"Architect or bee? The human price of technology","author":"M Cooley","year":"1987","unstructured":"Cooley M (1987) Architect or bee? The human price of technology. Hogarth Press, London"},{"key":"1959_CR13","volume-title":"The case for a four-day week","author":"A Coote","year":"2020","unstructured":"Coote A, Harper A, Stirling A (2020) The case for a four-day week. Polity, London"},{"key":"1959_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674242203","volume-title":"Automation and Utopia: human flourishing in a world without work","author":"J Danaher","year":"2019","unstructured":"Danaher J (2019) Automation and Utopia: human flourishing in a world without work. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts"},{"key":"1959_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00146-022-01496-x","author":"JP Deranty","year":"2022","unstructured":"Deranty JP, Corbin T (2022) Artificial intelligence and work: a critical review of recent research from the social sciences. AI Soc. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00146-022-01496-x","journal-title":"AI Soc"},{"key":"1959_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"254","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2016.08.019","volume":"114","author":"C Frey","year":"2017","unstructured":"Frey C, Osborne M (2017) The future of employment: how susceptible are jobs to computerisation? Technol Forecast Soc Chang 114:254\u2013280","journal-title":"Technol Forecast Soc Chang"},{"key":"1959_CR17","volume-title":"Capitalism unleashed","author":"A Glyn","year":"2006","unstructured":"Glyn A (2006) Capitalism unleashed. Oxford University Press, Oxford"},{"key":"1959_CR18","volume-title":"Bullshit jobs: a theory","author":"D Graeber","year":"2018","unstructured":"Graeber D (2018) Bullshit jobs: a theory. Allen Lane, London"},{"key":"1959_CR19","volume-title":"Der arbeitende Souver\u00e4n: Eine normative Theorie der Arbeit","author":"A Honneth","year":"2023","unstructured":"Honneth A (2023) Der arbeitende Souver\u00e4n: Eine normative Theorie der Arbeit. Suhrkamp Verlag AG"},{"issue":"4","key":"1959_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eeh.2007.03.002","volume":"44","author":"M Huberman","year":"2007","unstructured":"Huberman M, Minns C (2007) The times they are not changin\u2019: days and hours of work in old and new worlds, 1870\u20132000. Explor Econ Hist 44(4):538\u2013567","journal-title":"Explor Econ Hist"},{"key":"1959_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7208\/chicago\/9780226825236.001.0001","volume-title":"Welfare for markets. a global history of basic income","author":"A J\u00e4ger","year":"2023","unstructured":"J\u00e4ger A, Zamora D (2023) Welfare for markets. a global history of basic income. Chicago University Press, Chicago"},{"key":"1959_CR22","first-page":"358","volume-title":"Essays in Persuasion","author":"JM Keynes","year":"1963","unstructured":"Keynes JM (1963) Economic possibilities for our grandchildren. Essays in Persuasion. Norton, London, pp 358\u2013373"},{"issue":"2","key":"1959_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1177\/048661347400600206","volume":"6","author":"S Marglin","year":"1974","unstructured":"Marglin S (1974) What do bosses do? The origins and function of hierarchy in capitalist production. Rev Radic Polit Econ 6(2):60\u2013112","journal-title":"Rev Radic Polit Econ"},{"issue":"3","key":"1959_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1257\/jep.29.3.31","volume":"29","author":"J Mokyr","year":"2015","unstructured":"Mokyr J, Vickers C, Ziebarth N (2015) The history of technological anxiety and the future of economic growth: is this time different? J Econ Perspect 29(3):31\u201350","journal-title":"J Econ Perspect"},{"key":"1959_CR25","volume-title":"Weapons of mass distraction: how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy","author":"C O\u2019Neil","year":"2016","unstructured":"O\u2019Neil C (2016) Weapons of mass distraction: how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy. Crown Publishing Group, New York"},{"issue":"4","key":"1959_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1267","DOI":"10.1007\/s00146-023-01704-2","volume":"38","author":"M Pflanzer","year":"2023","unstructured":"Pflanzer M, Dubljevi\u0107 V, Bauer WA, Orcutt D, List G, Singh MP (2023) Embedding AI in society: ethics, policy, governance, and impacts. AI Soc 38(4):1267\u20131271","journal-title":"AI Soc"},{"key":"1959_CR27","volume-title":"In praise of idleness","author":"B Russell","year":"1935","unstructured":"Russell B (1935) In praise of idleness. Unwin Hyman, London"},{"key":"1959_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1521\/siso.2005.69.4.606","volume":"69","author":"S Sayers","year":"2005","unstructured":"Sayers S (2005) Why work? Marxism and human nature. Sci Soc 69:606\u2013616","journal-title":"Sci Soc"},{"issue":"12","key":"1959_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1162\/1088198054084581","volume":"9","author":"J Schor","year":"2005","unstructured":"Schor J (2005) Sustainable consumption and worktime reduction. J Ind Ecol 9(12):37\u201350","journal-title":"J Ind Ecol"},{"key":"1959_CR30","volume-title":"The fourth industrial revolution","author":"K Schwab","year":"2017","unstructured":"Schwab K (2017) The fourth industrial revolution. Penguin, London"},{"key":"1959_CR31","volume-title":"The machine age: an idea, a history, a warning","author":"R Skidelsky","year":"2024","unstructured":"Skidelsky R (2024) The machine age: an idea, a history, a warning. Allen Lane, London"},{"key":"1959_CR32","volume-title":"The political economy of work","author":"D Spencer","year":"2009","unstructured":"Spencer D (2009) The political economy of work. Routledge, London"},{"key":"1959_CR33","volume-title":"Making light work: an end to toil in the twenty-first century","author":"D Spencer","year":"2022","unstructured":"Spencer D (2022) Making light work: an end to toil in the twenty-first century. Polity, Cambridge"},{"key":"1959_CR34","volume-title":"Inventing the future: postcapitalism and a world without work","author":"N Srnicek","year":"2015","unstructured":"Srnicek N, Williams A (2015) Inventing the future: postcapitalism and a world without work. Verso, London"},{"key":"1959_CR35","volume-title":"A world without work: technology, automation and how we should respond","author":"D Susskind","year":"2020","unstructured":"Susskind D (2020) A world without work: technology, automation and how we should respond. Allen Lane, London"},{"key":"1959_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Susskind D (2023) Work and meaning in the age of AI, Brookings center on regulation and markets, working paper. Available at: https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/work-and-meaning-in-the-age-of-ai\/","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780198876434.003.0008"},{"key":"1959_CR37","volume-title":"The age of surveillance capitalism: the fight for a human future at the new frontier of power","author":"S Zuboff","year":"2019","unstructured":"Zuboff S (2019) The age of surveillance capitalism: the fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. Generic, New York"}],"container-title":["AI &amp; SOCIETY"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]],"date-time":"2025-04-10T13:04:53Z","timestamp":1744290293000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]}},"alternative-id":["1959"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01959-3","relation":{},"ISSN":["0951-5666","1435-5655"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0951-5666","type":"print"},{"value":"1435-5655","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]]},"assertion":[{"value":"15 January 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"30 April 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"16 May 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The author states that there is no conflict of interest of any kind.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Conflict of interest"}}]}}