The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired and Why We Need to Fight Back Now

In The Algorithm, Emmy-award winning investigative journalist Hilke Schellmann uncovers a critical civil rights issue of our time: the covert and pervasive influence of artificial intelligence on the world of work. Drawing on her experience as a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, Schellmann presents a startling exposé on how AI technologies are increasingly shaping hiring practices, employee monitoring, and workplace dynamics.

Through a journalistic detective story, Schellmann reveals how AI-driven tools are used to assess job applicants through video games, analyze online activity for personality profiling, and even predict emotional states from voice and facial expressions. Her investigation includes interviews with whistleblowers who expose the flaws and biases in these systems, and she tests various AI applications that track employees’ keystrokes and predict staff turnover. The result is a detailed account of how much employers know about us and how little we understand about the algorithms affecting our lives.

The Algorithm also highlights the systemic issues of discrimination that AI can perpetuate, particularly against women and people of color. Schellmann argues for a reevaluation of how we use these technologies in hiring and management, advocating for more thoughtful and equitable practices. As AI continues to shape our world, Schellmann stresses the urgent need for robust protections and ethical guidelines to ensure these tools are used responsibly.

Schellmann’s work provides a compelling and urgent call to action, urging readers to consider the broader implications of AI on privacy, fairness, and human dignity in the workplace. 📚❤️