AI, Work & Power: Four Reflections by Political Theorist Michael Hardt

Who wields power in the age of automation? In response to this question, Michael Hardt shared his perspective with faculty and students as part of the 35th anniversary celebration of the Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations at the Tec’s State of Mexico campus.

Hardt is a professor at Duke University in North Carolina, United States, where he has been recognized for his contributions to the study of power, globalization, and new forms of social organization, in addition to his work as a political theorist.

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are transforming the workplace, Hardt called for a rethinking of the relationship between humans, machines, and economic systems, focusing on the social implications of technological advances.

“To build effective relationships, humanity and human interaction are essential. The world wasn’t made for machines. We’re the ones who developed them”, he said.

During his keynote address, Labor and the Automation of Intelligence, the co-author of works such as Empire and Commonwealth presented four key ideas for understanding the relationship between power, technology, and labor.

1. Automation: A driver of power redistribution

For Michael Hardt, automation cannot be understood solely as a technical advancement aimed at efficiency, but rather as a tool that has historically been used to reorganize power within the productive system.

In this regard, he explained that every wave of innovation, from industrial mechanization to artificial intelligence, has had a direct impact on workers’ bargaining power. 

Mass automation, he noted, not only replaces tasks but also reduces autonomy and weakens collective structures.

“We must be able to distinguish between subject and object. The main problem is that we’re investing more in objects than in people, which reduces the power of workers and increases that of machines”, said Hardt.

Although he acknowledged that technology also creates new jobs, he cautioned that these tend to involve less influence. In other words, jobs are not disappearing, but they are becoming more fragmented, which leads to less political power.

From this perspective, the key question is not how many jobs are created or lost, but who gains power in the process.

2. Conditional systems

Another of Hardt’s ideas was the changing relationship between humans and their tools. Drawing on ideas dating back to the 19th century, he explained how a line of reasoning that once seemed self-evident has been turned on its head.

He said that while in other historical periods tools were extensions of the human body and will, today’s technological systems, especially those based on data and algorithms, tend to structure work, dictate its pace, and limit decision-making.

According to the scholar, this change means that, in many cases, workers no longer use the tool itself, but rather operate within a system that imposes predefined conditions. 

For Hardt, understanding this reversal is essential. He points out that it is not merely a philosophical question but a key point for analyzing new forms of control in the contemporary workplace.

“If we want to understand what kinds of work might emerge from these changes and the implementation of automation, we can look to the past”, he said.

3. Mass intellectuality

Faced with this situation, Hardt does not present a pessimistic outlook but rather sees an opportunity for transformation. In his analysis, the value of work today lies not only in material production, but also in people’s intellectual and creative abilities.

He refers to this phenomenon as mass intellectuality, a form of collective intelligence that generates value through knowledge, collaboration, and accumulated experience. 

Unlike industrial value, this value is not easily quantifiable, as it focuses on collective qualities and capabilities, which, as he emphasized, are transferable across sectors.

In other words, they are not tied to a single task or industry, which opens up the possibility of exploring new, more flexible, and dynamic ways of organizing work.

In this context, networks and connectivity play a key role, enabling not only new forms of production but also new forms of social connection and interaction, which can strengthen this collective intelligence.

4. The loss of habits

Going beyond the economic or political sphere, Hardt shifted the discussion to a more human level. He noted that one of the most significant effects of automation is the transformation or disappearance of everyday habits.

“Human habits are what give life rhythm, meaning, and fulfillment. For this reason, the loss of certain forms of work implies not only a change in production but also a shift in the human experience”, Hardt said.

With this in mind, the Duke University professor posed a question, if technology allows us to perform complex tasks with perfect results, what role is left for human intellect, which is inherently imperfect?

For Hardt, the answer does not lie in competing with machines but in reaffirming what makes us human — the ability to build relationships, create meaning, and engage with the world through experiences. 

“The world wasn’t made for machines. We’re the ones who developed them”.- Michael Hardt.

Michael Hardt concluded his remarks by emphasizing how important it is for workers to gain a deep understanding of their tools and change their habits in order to transform technological systems and shift the balance of power in their favor.

During the event, Josefina Cortés, Regional Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Government for the Tec’s campuses in Mexico City, highlighted the value of collective thinking as a cornerstone of academia.

“We’re holding this event with a focus on reflection and informed discussion. When it comes to academia, we must work on three levels: understanding, being, and know-how,“ Cortés concluded.

The keynote lecture, Labor and the Automation of Intelligence, was part of the events held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tec’s presence in Mexico City.

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