Artificial intelligence, innovation and the new architecture of exploitation: Towards reconfiguring humanness in the age of algorithmic labour

<p dir="ltr">Purpose: This conceptual study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the</p><p dir="ltr">nature of work and reconfiguring the experience of humanness, particularly among low-</p><p dir="ltr">skilled and informal workers.</p><p dir="ltr">Method: Using an integrative literature review methodology, the study synthesises</p><p dir="ltr">interdisciplinary research from organisational studies, sociology, and AI ethics to examine</p><p dir="ltr">the mechanisms through which AI-driven labour displacement, algorithmic management, and</p><p dir="ltr">structural precarity contribute to new forms of exploitation.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings: The study develops a novel conceptual framework that links technological</p><p dir="ltr">transformation to the erosion of the relational, moral, and emotional dimensions of work</p><p dir="ltr">conditions, resulting in conditions increasingly resembling modern slavery.</p><p dir="ltr">Originality: the study’s novelty lies in its reframing of AI as a socio-technical actor with</p><p dir="ltr">ontological consequences for worker identity, autonomy, and dignity. The findings</p><p dir="ltr">underscore the need for ethical AI design, inclusive policy frameworks, and human-centred</p><p dir="ltr">organisational practices.</p><p dir="ltr">Practical implications: This paper offers practical implications for policymakers,</p><p dir="ltr">technologists, and business leaders seeking to align innovation with social justice and</p><p dir="ltr">sustainable labour futures.</p>