Dr. Alex Miltsov Explores Worker Experiences in Canada’s Generative AI Era
The future of work is increasingly tied to the rise of generative AI, and Dr. Alex Miltsov is helping shape the conversation.
The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various economic sectors has sparked significant concerns about job security, particularly in the realm of cognitive labour. Generative AI applications like ChatGPT and Claude are revolutionizing industries, from education to the financial sector. Their ability to perform tasks traditionally done by humans has led to a paradigm shift in work dynamics, raising alarm about the future of human labour. This project aims to examine the experiences of workers who face job loss due to the implementation of generative AI in their workplace, a pressing issue in today’s digital economy.
The main research question is: How does the introduction of generative AI affect workers’ labour experience in Canada? Specifically, this study will examine the different contextual factors leading to workers losing employment due to generative AI. It will also investigate how senior managers make decisions about substituting human labour with generative AI tools and the impact of job loss on workers.
We will use a mixed-methods approach incorporating in-depth semi-structured interviews and surveys to study workers in Canada who have either lost their jobs or experienced significant work pattern changes due to the introduction of generative AI. The study will target three sectors: banking/finance, design, and the legal profession to collect detailed insights into the emotional, financial, and professional impacts of generative AI on work and employment. The significance and originality of this project lie in its novelty and comprehensive approach to examining the multifaceted impact of generative AI on employment. By focusing on the experiences of workers who have become unemployed due to AI integration, the study addresses a crucial contemporary challenge in our society. It aims to offer a nuanced understanding of how generative AI is reshaping work and employment. This project will bring valuable contributions to research on the social effects of automation.
Furthermore, the findings will have relevance beyond academia. They will inform not only governmental labour-market policies but also organizational hiring strategies and continuing education programs. This ensures that the research contributes directly to improving policy and practice in key areas affected by generative AI. The insights from this study will be valuable to policymakers, employers, employees, educators, trade union representatives, and other stakeholders. They will support the development of targeted initiatives and support systems for workers impacted by generative AI-induced changes. Ultimately, the project will contribute to more effective strategies for managing the transition in the labour market and ensuring that workers are not left behind in the shift toward an AI-driven economy.
Co-investigators
- Anabel Quan-Haase Western University (The University of Western Ontario)
- Xavier St-Denis Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Collaborator:
- Kathrin Komp-Leukkunen Lappeenranta University of Technology
This research project is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant (2025-2028), valued at $167,748 titled: Worker Experiences in the Age of Generative AI: A Study of Cognitive Labour in Canada.
Joannie St-Germain B.Sc. ’16, M.Sc. (she/her/elle)
Research Officer
Office of Research and Graduate Studies
819-822-9600 ext. 2242
