The International Labour Organization (ILO) has unveiled a new online resource, the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Work in the Digital Economy. The Observatory aims to become the world’s leading international knowledge hub on AI’s impact on the workplace.
The platform will provide evidence, analysis, and expert insights across four key areas: AI’s effects on employment and productivity, algorithmic management, digital labor platforms, and the handling of workers’ data. The initiative comes in response to AI’s growing influence in transforming work environments globally.
At the launch event, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo stated, “We recognize that workplaces are being transformed by AI. The ILO aims to support governments, workers, and employers in managing this transition so AI becomes a positive force.”
The high-level virtual event, held on September 25, featured notable participants, including Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology; Marina Elvira Calderone, Italy’s Minister of Labour and Social Policies; Roberto Súarez Santos, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE); Cathy Feingold, Deputy President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); and Richard Samans, Director of the ILO Research Department.
This Observatory will serve as a critical resource for discussions at upcoming International Labour Conferences in 2025 and 2026, focusing on the evolving role of AI in shaping the global workforce
