Ethics and the Digital Transformation of Human Work

Reviews / Votes

"Peter G. Kirchschlaeger delivers an insightful exploration into the ethical dimensions of the digital transformation reshaping our workplaces. Through engaging analysis, he examines the disruptive impact of 'artificial intelligence' on human labour and offers a thought-provoking framework for society on how to embrace the opportunities of innovation while addressing its ethical challenges." (Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank)

"BIG TECH is inventing the AI-saturated future that serves their interests and ambitions for profit and social control. . Our societies rely on the Tech giants' accounts of the inevitable consequences of their work . Peter G. Kirchschlaeger boldly chooses the road less traveled, with striking erudition and profound commitment to the human, he offers a deeply creative framework for a human future that co-exists with new forms of machine intelligence that serve humanity rather than control us. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger assembles an intricate framework of social structure and human activity based on the moral principle of human dignity, the psychology of human fulfillment, and the politics of society as the enduring guarantor of human rights and democratic self-governance. This is a future owned and operated by humanity, not by Tech overlords, and everyone on earth needs more thinking like this. The future is ours to make, not the property of private corporations to impose. . Peter G. Kirchschlaeger's work is an antidote to the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that so often overtake us. It asks us to join the fight for a human future." (Shoshana Zuboff, Author "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism"; Charles Edward Wilson Professor Emeritus, Harvard Business School, USA)

"For most of us the words 'Artificial Intelligence' conjure up a maze of conflicting predictions and assertions. Will it help humanity? Will it overwhelm us? Who can guide us through this maze and help us to understand the phenomenon, its potential, its power and its problems? Peter G. Kirchschlaeger's scholarly and prescient work is precisely the trustworthy and accessible resource we need to navigate this rapidly changing digital world, to make sense of it and to ensure it is used ethically in the benign service of creation." (Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Mary Patricia McAleese, former President of Ireland; Chancellor of the Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)

"In the midst of the maddening AI noise, a structured work of reflection built on the art of asking the right questions." (Silvio Napoli, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Schindler Group)

"Data-based systems pose challenges for the future of work that differ from earlier technological revolutions, as this important book makes crystal clear. It is not just about job numbers, but about the nature of work and the ethical principles that guide it and that form society. A must read for researchers and policy makers in this area." (Professor Dr Katharina Pistor, Edwin B. Parker Professor of Comparative Law, Director, Center on Global Legal Transformation, Columbia Law School, Columbia University, USA)

"If you want to read a book about the impact of digital transformation and AI on human labor, read this book! It is a brilliant and sharp scientific analysis combined with an inspiring and concrete proposal to create an ethically sound future for everyone and the planet: SERT." (Anat Bar-Gera, Tech Investor, Board Member, Serial Entrepreneur)

"Lucidly and with great intellectual depth, this book addresses one of the major societal questions: How will AI affect the nature of work and human dignity? Its main thesis is that unlike in previous technological disruptions, this time it will be different." (Professor Dr. Helmut Bölcskei, Professor of Mathematical Information Science, Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Mathematics, ETH Zurich)

"This book discusses the ethical dilemmas posed by the digital transformation of human work. Arguing that Data-Based Systems (DS) will likely displace more jobs than they create, it proposes the innovative SERT model: a system of decoupled income and societal contribution designed to ensure a just and dignified future for all. A timely and important analysis with concrete solutions." (Professor Dr Thomas Pogge, Leitner Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs, Yale University, USA)

"In an era characterized by careless enthusiasm for data-based systems - over-heroically labelled 'artificial intelligence' and shaped by economic greed - the work (Ethics and the Digital Transformation of Human Work. The Society-, Entrepreneurship-, Research-Time Model SERT) is a refreshingly necessary demystification of the greatest voodoo since the beginning of digital evolution. Lucid and pragmatic, it provides answers to questions that too few people have even asked so far." (Nina George, Prize-Winning and International Bestselling Author, President of Honor of the European Writers' Council)

"To read this book is an absolute must for everyone who is interested and/or involved in the development of social welfare. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger captures not only possible systemic far-reaching impacts of AI- and Digital Transformation on society at large, but also how the purpose of life and the future identity of human-beings would need to be addressed by all of us. It also gives hope for those who cannot yet see the positive side of our technological developments." (Stefan Bachofen, Chairman of bbv Software Services Group AG)

"An outstanding book! Everyone who is interested in the future of human work - and that's probably almost all of us - should read this groundbreaking and scientifically rigorous study on the impact of 'AI' on human work from an ethical perspective. It does not only analyze ethical downsides and upsides of this disruption but offers with SERT also a concrete, inclusive, and sustainable model as a way forward that is convincing in the global 'north' and 'south'." (Professor Dr. Kutoma Wakunuma, Professor of Research and Teaching in Information Systems at the School of Computer Science and Informatics of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media of De Montfort University, UK and Zambia)

"I highly recommend this book, which warns of advanced AI systems displacing jobs at an unprecedented scale, challenging the assumption that technology leads to new job creation. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger's SERT model proposes systemic safeguards to uphold human dignity and economic stability, providing a crucial framework for leaders to align AI with societal values before irreversible disruptions occur." (Sungjin (James) Kim, Senior Applied Scientist at Selling Partner Services (SPS), Amazon)

"'Ethics and the Digital Transformation of Human Work' by Prof. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger is a timely and deeply thoughtful contribution to one of the most pressing challenges of our era. With clarity and moral urgency, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger examines the disruptive potential of digital transformation and so-called Artificial Intelligence on human labor. A must-read for policymakers, technologists, and ethicists alike." (Professor Dr. Benjamin F. Grewe, Professor of Neuronal Learning and Intelligent Systems, Institute of Neuroinformatics UZH/ETH Zurich / Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, ETH Zurich)

"Innovative and unconventional, this book enriches the currently evolving debate about the future of work with fresh ideas and original insights into what the work should represent for the human species in the era of expanding digitalization. A rare example of academic work, where ethics meets digital transformation and turns into practical suggestions on how to improve our lives as citizens and workers. A must read to those who look for thought-provoking approaches to the future of work." (Professor Dr Migle Laukyte, Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Law, Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain; Member of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE))

"Ethics and the Digital Transformation of Human Work is a powerful read that challenges the assumption that technological progress always leads to job growth. It explores how Data-Based Systems (DS) reshape work, sometimes creating jobs but often displacing them or altering skill demands. The book highlights the "black-box problem" of algorithmic opacity, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in data driven economies. Grounded in human rights ethics, it advocates for dignity, equality, and autonomy in the face of digital transformation. It also explores solutions like unconditional basic income and the Society-, Entrepreneurship-, Research-Time (SERT) model to address job displacement. A key takeaway is its call for global governance through an UN-backed International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) and a framework of 30 guiding principles. For anyone working at the intersection of AI, economics, and ethics, this book is a must read. It doesn't just offer critique; it lays out solutions, making it an invaluable resource for those of us striving to shape a more just and responsible digital future." (Shamira Ahmed, Executive Director of the Data Economy Policy Hub (DepHUB), South Africa)

"Peter G. Kirchschlaeger is peering into the future with human lucidity. While his analysis recognizes the inevitability of the digital paradigm shift, he provides guidance on shaping this evolution, pathways that preserve core human rights, most notably the right to live a fulfilling life with dignity. My takeaway ... humankind will not capitulate!" (Professor Dr. Philip D. Jaffé, University of Geneva, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child)

"How can we ensure that the coming digital transformation of human labor enhances human flourishing, even as it leads to a radical reduction of paid professional work? Peter G. Kirchschlaeger moves beyond the tired alternatives of apocalyptic catastrophe and technophilic utopia to develop a detailed assessment and a concrete proposal for a systemic ethical response. An essential resource." (Professor Dr. Jennifer Herdt, Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethics; Professor of Religious Studies; Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Yale University Divinity School, Yale University, USA)

"This book offers a timely and insightful contribution to the critical discourse on digital transformation and data-based systems (DS). In this book, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger examines the ethical dimensions of rapidly evolving technologies and their impact on both professional and private lives. Beyond analyzing the challenges to human work, the book explores innovative models and advocates for a Human Rights-Based approach to DS and the establishment of an International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) at the UN. For anyone seeking a comprehensive and ethically grounded understanding of the societal implications of AI and potential pathways towards a humane and sustainable future, this book provides valuable guidance and thought-provoking perspectives." (Professor Dr. Damian Okaibedi Eke, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham, UK, and Zambia)

"In a time of profound, technology-driven changes in the world of work, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger's book is a vital contribution for policymakers, researchers, and professionals navigating an uncertain future. It serves both as a reminder of the pressing ethical challenges we face today and as a much-needed proposal for how we might address them." (Dr. Yuri Lima, Future of Work Research Coordinator, Future LAB, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil)

"When machines do our work, what will be left for us? In his book, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger addresses the central question of how the remaining work, welfare and social participation must be distributed to enable everyone to live a life of human dignity and proposes ethical ways of addressing the significant challenges associated with the digital transformation of human work." (Professor Dr. Sabine T. Koeszegi, Head of the Institute of Management Science, Professor of Labor Science and Organization, Academic Director of the Executive MBA Program IDEa, TU Wien, Austria; Chair of the UNESCO Advisory Board on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Austria; Member of the AI Advisory Board of the Austrian Government)

"Peter G. Kirchschlaeger calls for a human-centered digital transformation that prioritizes human dignity and rights over technological determinism. Technology must remain a means to an end - designed to serve people, their values, and the common good. His Society-, Entrepreneurship-, Research-Time (SERT) model offers an alternative vision for work and societal participation beyond traditional employment. Indeed, ethical reflection is not an optional luxury but the foundation for ensuring that digital innovation fosters justice, solidarity, and a sustainable, human-rights-based future." (Professor Dr Thomas Beschorner, Professor for Business Ethics and Director of the Institute for Business Ethics, University of St Gallen, Switzerland)

"While everyone hopes to improve the human condition through digital transformation, there are diverse and even conflicting views on how to achieve this. In this context, SERT, proposed by Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, will serve as a valuable theoretical platform for social discussions on real-world issues." (Professor Dr. Insok Ko, Professor of Philosophy & Dean of the College of Humanities, Inha University, Korea; former President of the Korean Society for the Philosophy of Science)

"This is essential reading for anybody interested in a profound analysis of the digital transformation of human labor and a compelling, practices-oriented vision of a future where technology serves humanity and not the other way around." (Professor Dr. Catrin Misselhorn, Professor of Philosophy, University of Goettingen, Germany)

"The book of Peter G. Kirchschlaeger examines the ethical implications of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on human labor, highlighting systemic risks such as job displacement and economic inequality and their impact on human dignity, and identity. The Society-, Entrepreneurship-, Research-Time (SERT) model proposed offers a visionary framework for addressing these implications in our era of rapid technological change. The book offers some sobering thoughts for those of us developing automation and digitalization solutions about the potential consequences of our work." (Professor Dr. John Lygeros, Professor for Computation and Control and Head of the Automatic Control Laboratory, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich)

"This visionary project aims at no less than making digital transformation of human work a means for transforming economy into an instrument of equal dignity for all human beings - that is an inspiring challenge." (Professor em. Dr. Philippe Mastronardi, Professor Emeritus of Law, University of St Gallen)

"The book 'Ethics and the Digital Transformation of Human Work' is a serious and well-documented call for democratic control of so-called Artificial Intelligence. Based on a sober and sobering assessment of AI (it's incapacity for moral action and accountability, the fact that its purpose is to exclude humans from work rather than facilitate it, the market pressures that accelerate its implementation), Peter G. Kirchschlaeger makes a serious and detailed call for Human Rights-Based Data-Based Systems under international regulation, in order to guarantee that such systems be safe, transparent, and at the service of human rights, which are the moral grounding of the work." (Professor Dr Germàn Bula, Professor of Philosophy, Universidad Pedagogica Nacional, Bogota, Colombia)

"Peter G. Kirchschlaeger skillfully analyses the ethical impact of "data-based systems" on human dignity, freedom, well-being, and capacity to meaningfully contribute to society, while at the same time not shying away from proposing concrete and actionable visions for new political and economic initiatives to support an ethical transition to an increasing digitalized society. Most importantly, he avoids the temptation of speculating about hypothetical futures and then describing the challenges that humanity will face in those futures; he rather directly tackles the central philosophical, ethical, and political question of the present time: how should we as a society think and act today to fulfil our responsibility to a future where technology supports deep human, social, and environmental needs and not just the political, technological or economic agenda of current technology developers?" (Professor Dr Filippo Santoni de Sio, Professor of Ethics of Technology, TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands)