Exploring the Potential of Auditing Automation and Augmentation in the U.S. Workforce

The paper, “Future of Work with AI Agents,” addresses the impact of AI agents on the U.S. labor market, focusing on job displacement and human agency concerns. To understand these challenges, the authors propose a novel auditing framework to evaluate which tasks workers prefer to be automated or augmented by AI, aligning these preferences with current AI capabilities. They develop the Human Agency Scale (HAS) to quantify levels of desired human involvement and create the WORKBank database, sourcing data from 1,500 workers and AI experts across 844 tasks in 104 occupations. The analysis categorizes tasks into four zones based on automation potential, revealing critical mismatches and opportunities for development. The findings suggest a shift in core human competencies from information-based to interpersonal skills, emphasizing the need for aligning AI advancements with worker preferences and preparing for evolving workplace dynamics.

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