Brookings Institution highlights need for 'robot relations' department in workplaces

Andon Labs: Andon Labs is an AI company that ran an experimental store in San Francisco, assigning substantial business operations including hiring, scheduling, and worker management to its AI system Luna. In August, Luna recommended terminating an employee, drawing significant attention to automated decision-making in workplaces. This experiment contributed to legislative discussions on restricting AI use in employment actions. Cristina Zaga: Cristina Zaga is an assistant professor at the University of Twente specializing in human-machine interactions and societal implications of automation. She has commented on the limitations of viewing AI systems merely as new colleagues, emphasizing the need for workers to have roles in governing and designing automation. Zaga's perspective underscores broader questions of power, ownership, and meaningful participation in AI-driven workplaces. Darrell M. West: Darrell M. West is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who specializes in technology policy and its societal impacts. In a July commentary, he introduced the concept of a 'robot relations' department to handle employee grievances involving AI agents, cobots, and large language models. West argued that traditional HR systems are ill-equipped for the emerging challenges of AI-mediated work environments. Brookings Institution: Brookings Institution is a leading think tank focused on public policy research and analysis. Senior fellow Darrell M. West recently authored a July commentary exploring how AI and automation will reshape workplace dynamics and employee relations. The piece highlights the need for new support structures to address human-AI tensions in professional settings. Legislation: California's legislature passed a bill with overwhelming support to ban the use of automated systems for firing or disciplining workers, awaiting the governor's decision by the end of September. Corporate Disclosure: Analyses of corporate disclosures show that many large U.S. companies, including tech hyperscalers, provide limited detail on AI governance, data protection, and workforce impacts despite public interest in keeping humans in decision-making loops. Workplace AI Adoption: Algorithmic management systems that organize, assign, monitor, and evaluate work are seeing steady growth across industries including customer service, transportation, logistics, banking, and healthcare.