Also from the ETUI, a Working paper: Artificial intelligence in Industry 4.0. Artificial intelligence (AI) has long been hailed as a transformative force set to revolutionise various aspects of our lives, including the way we work. Advances in complementary fields such as big data and cloud computing have seen the emergence of new ways of organising the means of production. Behind these new ecosystems lies a complex web of intricate technologies, bringing with it a unique set of risks and challenges. This working paper analyses the role of AI in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), with a specific focus on occupational safety and health (OSH) implications.
Section 1 situates AI within the framework of I4.0 and provides a brief overview of application-pull and technology-push factors inducing a need for changes. Section 2 delves into ways in which an AI system may unexpectedly fail and discusses trends in AI accidents based on available data. Section 3 explains how the growing convergence of information and operational technology make organisations more vulnerable to cyber-physical attacks, ultimately putting workers' safety at risk. Section 4 provides a critical assessment of the various principles put forward to ensure proper human oversight. Section 5 discusses how the implementation of AI systems may influence workers’ autonomy and, in this way, compromise workers’ safety and health. Finally, Section 6 describes the poor working conditions of data workers behind AI systems.
The Working paper is free to download as a PDF document here: Artificial intelligence in Industry 4.0 | etui