The Future of Work in the Era of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing both work itself and the processes of employment—hiring, recruitment, evaluation, compensation, performance analysis, retention, and job mobility. This Essay, based upon the 2024 Indiana Law Journal annual William R. Stewart Lecture, examines the effects of AI on work and argues for a holistic approach that harnesses the benefits of automation while addressing the inevitable systemic changes that AI is rapidly bringing to the labor market. The Essay examines two industries in which AI is already changing labor market demands: trucking and the performing arts. The Essay argues that while the automation can often increase efficiency and productivity, as well as accuracy and fairness in the labor market, inevitably the rapid acceleration of AI integration will bring significant disruptions. Policymakers should separately address the emergence of new forms of inequities, the necessity for reskilling, and the need to establish more robust economic security safeguards that are not dependent on fulltime, continuous employment for all.

The Essay thus considers how a more equitable tax framework, publicly funded reskilling programs, safety nets like Universal Basic Income (UBI), and a proactive reimagining of work can help displaced workers adapt, thrive, and contribute to the evolving economy.