Automation, Displacement, and Rights: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment and the Right to Livelihood

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across global industries has initiated a profound transformation in the nature and structure of employment. This report examines the multidimensional impact of AI-driven automation on labour markets, with particular attention to the tension between technological progress and the fundamental human right to livelihood. Drawing on secondary data sourced from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Economic Forum (WEF), the World Bank, and peer-reviewed academic literature, the report analyses both the positive contributions of AI—such as new occupational categories, enhanced productivity, and industrial growth—and the adverse consequences, including large-scale job displacement, wage polarisation, and the erosion of employment security for low-skilled workers. A dedicated discussion situates job loss within the constitutional framework of the Right to Livelihood under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, illustrating the legal and social stakes of unchecked automation. The report concludes that AI-induced unemployment is not inevitable but can be substantially mitigated through proactive reskilling programmes, legislative safeguards, and inclusive education reforms. Balancing innovation with equity is imperative for a just technological future.