ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE SCOPE OF LABOR RELATIONS AND THE (un)NECESSARY REGULATION

Abstract

This article examines the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on labor relations, emphasizing its influence on the legal, social, and organizational structure of contemporary employment. The expansion of algorithmic systems in management, recruitment, performance evaluation, and decision-making processes reveals a new form of digital subordination characterized by opaque automated decisions, constant monitoring, and the potential for indirect discrimination. The study investigates how the absence of specific regulation affects legal certainty and the protection of workers’ fundamental rights in the context of intelligent automation. A deductive, descriptive, and qualitative methodology is adopted, supported by bibliographical and documentary research. The findings show that the Brazilian Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) and existing regulations are insufficient to address the challenges posed by algorithmic subordination, especially regarding transparency, accountability, and governance of automated decisions. Comparative analysis with international frameworks—such as the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and guidelines from the International Labour Organization—demonstrates that it is possible to balance technological innovation and social protection through robust regulatory mechanisms. The study concludes that although AI has the potential to optimize processes and improve productivity, its unregulated use reinforces the structural vulnerability of workers and heightens risks of precarization, surveillance, and violations of human dignity. Therefore, the specific regulation of AI in the labor sphere is essential to ensure justice, transparency, and limits to algorithmic power, ensuring that technological progress remains aligned with the foundational values of Labor Law.