From recruitment and performance evaluations to workplace surveillance and dismissals, artificial intelligence is steadily expanding into core functions of working life.
The debate is no longer confined to how many jobs AI may replace. It increasingly focuses on the powers that will be delegated to algorithms and the safeguards that will govern their use. Yet the future shaped by AI is not predetermined. Rather, it is a matter of human, social and political choice, according to a new study by Greek think tank diaNEOsis titled “How Can Artificial Intelligence Be Ethical and Lawful?”
The study rejects framing AI as either inherently beneficial or harmful, arguing against narratives that oscillate between unrestrained optimism and portraying the technology as a modern-day “Pandora’s box.” Instead, it urges policymakers to assess the specific consequences of individual AI applications and the direction in which these technologies are steering society.
Where human dignity and autonomy are at stake, the study argues that meaningful human factor must be preserved. AI should enhance human capabilities rather than replace human judgment in decisions of fundamental importance.
It also calls for technological and economic development to be linked from the outset with the protection of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights through a “democracy, rule of law and human rights” approach.
The report covers a broad range of issues, including AI ethics and regulation, its impact on fundamental rights, democracy, public administration and the justice system. It also examines the implications for employment, scientific research, creativity and intellectual property, as well as the state’s responsibility in an era of algorithmic governance.
Concerns that technology could displace workers have existed for decades, but advances in AI have revived fears of the “end of work” with renewed intensity.
According to the study, however, the discussion extends beyond the question of whether AI will “take our jobs.” Automation is likely to reduce employment in occupations built around highly structured and repetitive tasks, while at the same time creating new opportunities in sectors where AI complements rather than replaces workers’ daily activities.
The key issue is not only the total number of jobs but also the transformation of the labour market. AI could make access to employment more difficult, reduce or redistribute jobs and increase work intensity. It may also reduce human involvement in decisions concerning recruitment, performance assessments and dismissals.
Vogiatzis argues that protecting employment and preserving the central role of human labour in production should remain a priority. Risks including worker displacement, disruption across a broad range of occupations and rising temporary unemployment require broad social dialogue and policy responses that extend beyond technology alone.
“Innovation does not emerge in an institutional, political or socio-economic vacuum,” the study notes. Whether AI narrows or widens digital, social and economic inequalities will depend largely on the public policies accompanying its adoption.
“Work is the gateway to an entire system of rights, obligations, protection and social welfare,” the report stresses.
Kleio Sgouropoulou, professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics at the University of West Attica, examines how AI-driven structural changes in the labour market could affect Greece.
Her analysis identifies skills as the decisive factor determining the country’s ability to compete in the AI economy.
The integration of AI faces not only technical obstacles but also deeper structural challenges, including demographic pressures, the digital divide, shortcomings in data infrastructure and unresolved ethical and legal issues. Without appropriate policy interventions, what appears to be a major development opportunity could instead become a source of social instability.
“The success of AI will ultimately depend on its social legitimacy,” Sgouropoulou argues. If workers perceive AI as a tool that frees them from repetitive tasks rather than threatens their livelihoods, its adoption is more likely to occur smoothly.
For that reason, she concluded, workers must be actively involved in the transformation process and equipped with the skills needed to meet the demands of an AI-driven economy.
Για να εμφανίζονται περισσότερα άρθρα της Ναυτεμπορικής στις αναζητήσεις σας εύκολα και γρήγορα, πρέπει να προσθέσετε το site στις προτιμώμενες πηγές σας. Μπορείτε να το κάνετε πηγαίνοντας εδώ.
