[Video] French Company Annouced AI Would “Replace” Its Staff. What’s Behind the Press Release? (Feb. 15, 2024)

I participated in the discussion panel organized by French Union Solidaires Informatique. The panel, held in Paris, was titled “Les Temps Artificiels”. It took place in Paris, on February 15, 2024. This event was part of a series focusing on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment. The conference also aimed to support the struggle against the layoffs at French online PR company Onclusive, which allegedly involve replacing jobs with AI technologies.

With my colleague Baptiste Delmas (Université Panthéon Sorbonne) I presented our ongoing research conducted with the French NGO Intérêt à Agir. The initiative addresses how companies use AI as a strategy to manage the workforce and restrict union actions. We specifically discussed the case of Onclusive and its potential connections to subcontractors in low-income countries. Additionally, we shared our findings on mapping AI supply chains and the ongoing legal disputes against companies using underpaid subcontractors under the guise of business process automation.