About this Event
How is AI reshaping work, and what can the UK video games industry tell us about the changes already taking place?
In this talk, Damian introduces four ways of understanding how work is changing with AI. Drawing on economics, “market shift” considers whether AI automates or augments existing work. From a labour process perspective, “control shift” examines how employers use AI to reshape control, fragment jobs and influence worker autonomy. “Imbrication”, drawing on the sociology of professions, explores how occupational roles, relationships and status evolve alongside new technologies. Finally, the innovation studies framing of “recombination” considers how the growing AI industry creates dependencies and captures value from established organisations.
Damian applies these perspectives to new data from the UK video games industry, identifying a set of changes described as “bypassing practices”. Workers are using AI in ways that can overlap with or exclude other technical groups, while subcontracting can fragment work and reduce decision-making autonomy. At the same time, some work is being displaced or transferred to specialist AI firms, reshaping where value is created and captured and affecting future job and earnings prospects.
The lecture will consider what these changes mean for good work and how unions, professional associations, employers and government can respond through more joined-up employment and industrial policy.
About Damian
Damian Grimshaw is Professor of Employment Studies and Associate Dean for Research Impact at King’s College London. He previously served as Director of the Research Department at the International Labour Organisation and was Professor at the University of Manchester.
His research focuses on technology and the future of work, precarious employment, low-wage labour markets, collective bargaining, outsourcing and gender inequality. His work brings together perspectives from employment relations, economics, sociology of work and management, and has informed policy debates in the UK and internationally.
Lecture Details
The lecture will take place from 3pm until 4:30pm with a drinks reception taking place from 4:30pm until 5pm.
Event venue & nearby stays
Alliance Manchester Business School, Booth Street West, Manchester, United Kingdom
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