The ascent of AI casts a shadow over the future of work, yet it may also present new possibilities.

The year 2026 paints a daunting picture for those in the workforce.

The earlier trends of quiet quitting, the Great Resignation, and notable union-organizing efforts that characterized the preceding years have faded into the background. While these movements indicated a resurgence of worker empowerment in the United States, they have been replaced by a new wave of anxieties. These concerns include escalating affordability issues, geopolitical turmoil, and the intimidating presence of artificial intelligence overhanging the job market.

For tech CEOs, who are at the forefront of the AI revolution, this technology is not a mere speculative concept but a dazzling opportunity. Their optimism is evident when they assert that AI is mere months away from performing all tasks typically handled by software engineers, or when they predict that it might eventually take over the roles of CEOs. However, these upbeat forecasts are met with skepticism from everyday workers, who find it hard to believe claims suggesting that “some jobs will vanish, but many will also be created.” A recent Pew Research survey in 2025 revealed that 64% of respondents anticipate a decrease in jobs due to AI over the next two decades, a sentiment mirrored by only 17% who believe AI will benefit the US overall in that timeframe.

In these uncertain times, close examination is essential. Over the course of 2026, the Guardian plans to release Reworked, a series of reports showcasing how AI affects human experiences in the workplace. This initiative will delve into both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, highlighting the real experiences of workers and the realities versus the hype surrounding these technological changes.

What does the future of work look like? The answer remains open, indicating there’s still a chance to guide our trajectory.

Dissolving Divisions

Lower-wage workers have long endured overarching surveillance and optimization in their workplaces, fearing that new technological developments may exacerbate their dehumanization. “For lower-wage employees, there’s anxiety about job replacement by robots, but equally unsettling is the fear of being replaced by robots,” stated Lisa Kresge, a senior researcher at UC Berkeley’s Labor Center.

On the flip side, white-collar professionals share similar worries, fearing their roles might become more akin to blue-collar labor. This shift could come from increased surveillance or necessitate transitions to tasks that AI cannot easily replace.

While these conditions create a sense of vulnerability for workers, they also present a critical chance for collective action. The pervasive anxiety surrounding AI is galvanizing employees to confront their challenges.

“This moment also serves as a potential opportunity,” remarked Sarita Gupta, Vice President of US Programs at the Ford Foundation and co-author of The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century. “When a young software engineer in Silicon Valley realizes their productivity is tracked just like a warehouse worker, class barriers dissolve, leading to the possible emergence of broader labor movements advocating for dignity. This shift is already beginning to unfold.”

Workers, regardless of their industry or pay grade, are facing a mix of anxiety and frustration reminiscent of the challenges sparked by the Covid pandemic. That crisis highlighted the struggles of frontline workers while blurring work-life boundaries for many. In response, there have been significant shifts in power dynamics: As employees at Amazon and Starbucks mobilized for unionization, the Great Resignation witnessed unprecedented numbers of people leaving their jobs. Those who remained began to negotiate better compensation and conditions.

“The situation has been challenging for numerous workers. The labor movement’s resurgence can partly be traced to the following fears,” noted Kresge.

She sees the rise of AI as a catalyst for a renewed labor movement to recover some of the power that has diminished due to longstanding employer attacks. “I hold an optimistic view regarding technology’s potential to improve how workers are treated and how productivity rewards are distributed in our economy,” she continued.

Perceptions of Power

Worker conditions have been precarious for an extended period. “Unions have gradually lost their collective bargaining power over the years, largely due to insufficient laws and enforcement measures,” Gupta explained. “For four decades, while productivity surged, wages stagnated, leading to historically low unionization rates.” In 2025, a mere 9.9% of US workers were unionized, matching the previous year’s rate and remaining at a 40-year low.

The rise of AI has catalyzed a global focus on the stark power imbalance between employers and employees, igniting passion and urgency among workers. Although the specific outcomes remain uncertain, this development offers a ray of hope amid adversity.

AI remains an evolving force. Much of the discourse surrounding its capabilities and expected impacts is speculative. The discourse surrounding worker power in the AI era is still being shaped, despite assertions from billionaire tech leaders looking to promote unregulated AI dominance.

“A significant aspect of the narrative is the intentional effort by many tech leaders to create confusion around AI, largely as a means to dismantle worker, policymaker, and critical voices opposing the increasing concentration of wealth and resources in this domain,” Kresge emphasized.

In essence, one should approach the pronouncements of tech billionaires with skepticism. While the rise of AI is effecting changes in numerous aspects of society and economics, these transformations hinge on our perceptions and expectations of a technology that is still developing.

“We must always remember that the direction technology takes is a conscious choice. We can channel AI into establishing a surveillance-oriented economy or use it to create an era of shared prosperity,” Gupta concluded. “If technology were genuinely shaped, directed, and governed by the individuals doing the work, AI wouldn’t be perceived as such a menace.”