TEHRAN - Artificial intelligence is often presented as a future technology, something that will one day change how people work, earn money, and define their careers. Yet for millions of workers around the world, that future has already arrived quietly, gradually, and without formal announcements. The transformation of labor by AI is not happening through dramatic layoffs or robot takeovers, but through subtle shifts that make human work less visible, less stable, and sometimes less valued.

Behind many of today’s “automated” systems are human workers whose roles are rarely acknowledged. From content moderation and data labeling to delivery routing and customer support, AI systems often rely on people who train, correct, and maintain them. These workers do not appear in corporate reports or public narratives about innovation. Their labor is hidden behind the illusion of full automation, even though machines are far from truly independent.

The rise of algorithmic management has further blurred the line between human decision-making and machine control. In many workplaces, schedules, performance evaluations, and even pay are determined by data-driven systems. Workers may never meet a human supervisor, instead interacting with dashboards, automated messages, or opaque scoring mechanisms. This shift reduces personal accountability while increasing pressure, as employees are expected to adapt to constantly changing rules generated by algorithms they do not understand.

Gig economy platforms offer a clear example of this invisible restructuring of labor. Drivers, couriers, and freelancers are often classified as independent workers, yet their actions are tightly governed by AI systems that assign tasks, monitor behavior, and enforce penalties. While these platforms emphasize flexibility and technological efficiency, the reality is that many workers experience unstable income, limited protections, and little opportunity to challenge automated decisions that affect their livelihoods.

Even in traditional sectors, AI is quietly redefining job roles. Tasks that once required judgment and experience are increasingly broken down into smaller, data-driven components. Workers are expected to follow algorithmic recommendations, reducing their autonomy while increasing productivity targets. Over time, this can lead to a form of deskilling, where human expertise is gradually replaced by system-generated instructions.

What makes this transformation particularly concerning is how little public discussion surrounds it. While debates about AI often focus on future job losses, the present reality is more complex. Jobs are not simply disappearing; they are being reshaped in ways that shift risk onto workers while concentrating power in the hands of those who control data and algorithms. This process happens quietly, making it harder for societies to recognize and respond to its consequences.

The ethical challenge is not whether AI should be used in the workplace, but how it should be governed. Transparency, accountability, and worker participation are often missing from AI-driven labor systems. When decisions are automated, workers deserve to know how those decisions are made and how they can be questioned. Without such safeguards, efficiency comes at the cost of dignity.
As AI continues to integrate into economic life, the concept of work itself is being rewritten. The invisible workers behind intelligent systems remind us that technology does not replace labor—it redistributes it, often unevenly. Recognizing these hidden roles is a necessary first step toward building a future of work that values humans not as data points, but as active participants in technological progress.