Standing Up for Human Value in the AI Economy | 'Understanding AI' — NYPL x D&S Event Series [4]

Generative AI models are marketed as the next revolution in workplace automation, but they ultimately rely on human labor — from the people labeling content and checking outputs, to the content creators and workers whose data are extracted to build the systems. As management and organizational leaders adopt AI across workplaces, the use of these systems raises questions about how companies are reshaping the quality of work, job security, and the value of  human labor. How are workers’ lives impacted when AI is used to monitor performance, surveil output, or make intrusive management decisions? Will AI disrupt industries and business models? How can we make sure technology supports workers, rather than undermining them?

About 'Understanding AI'

In the fall of 2025, The New York Public Library and Data & Society collaborated to present “Understanding AI,” a four-part live event series exploring the social implications of artificial intelligence and its impacts on democracy, the environment, and human labor. Featuring key figures in the AI ethics field, these events took place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)in New York City as part of the library’s7 Stories Up program, and are now available for all to watch.

Revisit the series