Narratives and Power in the Debate on AI and Work
Current discussions about the future of work are largely dominated by a technological imperative that focuses on the comprehensive functional scope and limitless diffusion of AI. According to this view, AI systems will fundamentally transform the world of work through exponentially increasing automation. The main drivers of these developments are US technology corporations. At the same time, these companies and their AI systems are associated with a libertarian worldview. This outlook seeks to maximise unregulated markets and entrepreneurial autonomy and, in doing so, to legitimise monopolies. The libertarian perspective thus stands in tension with the model of a social market economy based on co-determination. From this field of tension, a highly contested public debate on AI and the future of work has emerged.
In the research project Narratives and Power in the Debate on AI and Work, we examine the emergence, dissemination, and impact of AI narratives about the future of work, comparing developments in Germany and the United States. We analyse which actors shape the debate, which narratives and frames dominate, and how these change dynamically over time. A particular focus is placed on the perspective of workers.
Research
We analyse the development of key narratives from a critical perspective using a machine-learning-based topic modelling approach. We then turn empirically to the perspective of workers — both as recipients of these narratives and in their active role as key agents shaping the future of work. Overall, we combine data from public discourse with focus group and interview data. This allows us to trace which actors promote and dominate specific narratives and frames, and how employees and their representative bodies can influence negotiations on AI and work in line with their interests.
Analysis of the dominant narratives on AI and the future of work in Germany and the USA since 2010
Identification of key framing strategies employed by different actors
Examination of the role of employees, works councils and trade unions in the discursive negotiation of AI and work
Results in dialogue
As a synthesis of the findings, we will develop an Atlas of Narratives on AI and the Future of Work, mapping central narratives and providing practice-oriented tools for representative bodies. In addition, the insights will be actively communicated to different stakeholder groups: train-the-trainer workshops, a policy brief, blog posts, press releases, and public events will enable joint reflection on the research findings, critical discussion, and practical application. The aim is to provide an evidence-based contribution to the debate on AI and work, openly address uncertainties, and foster a productive dialogue between academia, practice, and policy.
Anna DumatStudent Assistant: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Georg von Richthofen, Dr.Senior Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Stephan Bohn, Dr.Associated Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Funding
| Duration: | 1 October 2025 – 30 September 2027 |
| Funding: | Hans-Böckler-Stiftung |
Stephan Bohn, Dr.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Society
Technologies are reshaping how economies and societies develop and operate in a changing, globally connected digital environment. We examine how different forms of innovation and entrepreneurship address systemic societal challenges.
