Colleague, Copilot, Companion, Controller – Roles of AI in Work Systems

Abstract

We initially present some findings on the importance of artificial intelligence for current HFE research based on a bibliometric study of the proceedings of the most recent annual conference of the Human Factors / Ergonomics Society in Germany (GfA, 2024). Given that importance we discuss the duality of AI as a tool and a player in work systems and based on extant research suggest that the aspects of hierarchy and emotion are considered when designing roles for AI. Using these aspects as dimensions we span a portfolio and suggest ‘colleague’, ‘copilot’, ‘companion’, and ‘controller’ as potential roles for AI in work systems thereby contributing to the discussion and analysis of yet to be properly defined “AI-infused” work systems.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Human-AI collaboration, Work Systems, Roles, Hierarchy, Emotion, Human-Factors / Ergonomics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005746