Disrupting work: How will workers and organizations navigate future technology?

A California Future of Work Commission meeting was held October 10 at the Stanford d.school. It was the second meeting of the commission, which was formed this past August. The goals of the commission include addressing income inequality and preparing the next generation of workers for the jobs of the future.

Professor Melissa Valentine presented data to the more than 100 meeting attendees that show the number of corporations is decreasing, and discussed the impact of that trend on the workforce for both job stability and social benefits. She discussed how technological advancements such as AI, automation and APIs might result in changes to the structure and number of workers in particular positions and fields.

Stanford’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence initiative detailed the content and impact of the meeting here. And graphic facilitator Anthony Weeks created a visual representation of the meeting in real time at the event.

Professor Valentine studies how new technologies change work and organizations. She is currently the co-director of the Stanford Center for Work, Technology and Organization (WTO), which recently launched its updated website.