Brave new world of work? Narratives on AI and the future of work

Many stories are told about AI and the future of work, ranging from mass unemployment to a life of abundance. These narratives are not neutral. They spread values, mobilise resources and, to some extent, bring about the very future they describe. This becomes especially visible when comparing Germany and the United States: where sovereignty and human control take centre stage in Germany, the image of a race dominates in the US. This article examines who tells these futures and who benefits from them.