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As we mark International Labour Day today, we're focusing this May newsletter on two key current dimensions of our mission to transform working lives for good.
AI and Jobs Taskforce
Firstly, this week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the creation of a new London AI and Jobs Taskforce, with IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas to act as Deputy Chair.
Addressing a high-profile meeting of global mayors and city leaders in Madrid, the Mayor set out an exciting vision for London to lead at city-level in fully recognising and tackling the risks and opportunities that AI brings to work.
The new Taskforce - chaired by technology entrepreneur and champion of ethical and responsible AI, Baroness Martha Lane-Fox, will firstly deliver sharp insight into how AI is already changing work for Londoners on the ground, before rapidly turning this insight into direct, practical advice.
From our Pissarides Review, we know that exposure to AI can act as a warning bell for significant and highly divergent impacts on workers' quality of life and wellbeing – and nowhere is this more keenly felt than across a city like London, a global hub for finance, the creative industries, professional services, and transport, among other key foundational sectors.
Given AI’s profound and varied potential implications across occupations, career-level, and industries, IFOW is delighted to be supporting the GLA in enabling London to pioneer models and pilots to guide technological outcomes for public good at city-level.
Making the Future Work - 18th May
Secondly, we are very excited to offer some more detail on our conference, which is just around the corner. We have over 300 attendees registered already, and that number is going up very quickly towards capacity, so please do sign up now to join us for what promises to be a fantastic day.
We’re convening senior stakeholders across industry, research, policy, and technology to discuss one of the most urgent questions of our time: how can the power of AI be coupled with human capability to transform working lives for good?
We're delighted to be beginning with a keynote address from Secretary of State for DSIT, Liz Kendall, followed by a fireside conversation with her DSIT Women in Tech Co-Lead, Annie-Marie Imafidon MBE. On this, do take a look at this new blog for IFOW, on the relationship between gender, work design, and burnout at work.
Speakers already confirmed include:
The event is shaped around four interlinked challenges, and for our curated reads this month, we’ve chosen some highlights from our recent work to help build the foundations for the day.
The Adoption Challenge: We know that the best results from AI come from augmenting, not replacing, work. So, how practically can we centre people and society in the design, development, and deployment of these incredible new technologies?
The Transitions Challenge: How can we develop skills and capabilities so that people are able to navigate work transitions more successfully and access better jobs, especially at moments of key transition?
The Institutional Challenge: How can we renew regional innovation ecosystems and build the capabilities of institutions to tackle structural inequalities that are driving the polarisation of work and society?
The Structural Challenge: How are new technologies impacting not just work and workplaces, but also our participation in democracy?
During the day, there will also be fantastic breakout sessions focused on key areas, including:
We're really looking forward to seeing you there.
Anna and Team IFOW
