AI and workers

Analyses of the impact of AI and robotics on workers, and worker-centered participatory design.

Publications

1. M. Brandao, A. Sharko, Z. Evans, W. Wu, A. Ghoshal, and B. Tshuma, “An Ethnography of Restaurant Robots in Japan: Promises, Perceptions, and Impacts,” in 2026 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), 2026. [Abstract]

   Robots are increasingly being used in restaurants to assist with service and increase efficiency. Yet, their impact on the daily work of restaurant workers, customers’ perceptions, and robots’ limitations are poorly understood - and so is the gap between these and official marketing narratives. In this paper we conduct an investigation of the impact of restaurant robots in a set of restaurant chains in Japan, through a combination of in-person ethnography and analysis of online customer reviews and news articles. We show how robots are used in practice, how they structure work, and their impact on workers and customers. In particular, while we find robots to be well integrated and ’invisible’, and majorly well received by customers and management, we also find they lead to a customer-perceived loss of human contact, a restructuring of work, an incentive for shortstaffing, deskilling of workers, and several technical challenges that are collectively addressed by workers and customers in work-like tasks. We compare these findings with marketing and management-led narratives, identifying gaps consistent with labor and power-centered critical studies.

2. M. A. B. Malik, M. Brandao, and K. Coopamootoo, “Towards worker-centered warehouse robots: A user study on privacy, inclusivity and safety,” International Journal of Social Robotics, 2026. [Abstract]

   Robots are increasingly shaping warehouse environments, where they interact with human workers and contribute to warehouse efficiency. These robots also come with risks, however, and current visions for their roles in warehouses are centered on business needs rather than workers’. Therefore, in this study, we place warehouse workers at the center, examining how their concerns about privacy, inclusivity, and safety intersect with the growing presence of robots. Drawing on a thematic analysis of twelve (N=12) semi-structured interviews, we uncover not only the day-to-day challenges these workers face - such as data surveillance, exclusionary practices, and physical hazards—but also their aspirations for more empowering forms of human-robot collaboration. From our findings, we propose a spectrum of worker-centered requirements and visions, e.g., robots for worker entertainment and connection, auditor accountability, zoned privacy control, surveillance notifications and manual overrides. By offering insights into worker priorities, we extend the discourse on responsible robotics and Human-Robot Interaction research. We conclude with strategic recommendations for designers, managers, and policymakers aimed at aligning emerging warehouse robotics with the well-being and diverse needs of the human workforce.

3. M. A. B. Malik, M. Brandao, and K. Coopamootoo, “Harvesting Perspectives: A Worker-Centered Inquiry into the Future of Fruit-Picking Farm Robots,” in IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), 2025. [Abstract] [DOI] [PDF]

   The integration of robotics in agriculture presents promising solutions to challenges such as labour shortages and increasing global food demand. However, existing visions of agriculture robots often prioritize technological and business needs over workers’. In this paper, we explicitly investigate farm workers’ perspectives on robots, particularly regarding privacy, inclusivity, and safety, three critical dimensions of agricultural HRI. Through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, we: 1) outline how privacy, safety and inclusivity issues manifest within modern picking-farms; 2) reveal worker attitudes and concerns about the adoption of robots; and 3) articulate a set of worker-centered requirements and alternative visions for robotic systems deployed in farm settings. Some of these visions open the door to the development of new systems and HRI research. For example, workers’ visions included robots for enhancing workplace inclusivity and solidarity, training, workplace accountability, reducing workplace accidents and responding to emergencies, as well as privacy-sensitive robots. We conclude with actionable recommendations for designers and policymakers. By centering worker perspectives, this study contributes to ongoing discussions in human-centered robotics, participatory HRI, and the future of work in agriculture.

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