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ARTICLE · 28 NOVEMBER 2017

Do Androids Dream Of The Equality Act?

Gowling WLG
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There is no denying that the world of work is changing. Technologies not dreamed of just 10 short years ago are shifting our perception of the nature of the employer/employee relationship.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Angela Lown
Angela Lown
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There is no denying that the world of work is changing. Technologies not dreamed of just 10 short years ago are shifting our perception of the nature of the employer/employee relationship. Artificial intelligence ("AI") and the so-called 'rise of the robots' is making some people question whether in the future we will have an employer (or even a job) at all.

Against this backdrop I was struck by news from the US that my next interview could be conducted by a robot. I was initially sceptical. I saw the recent episode of The Apprentice and the robots there struggled with the most basic of yoga moves. It seemed like a leap to expect them to carry out the sort of rigorous selection and assessment processes carried out by employers every day. It turned out I was half-right - the robots are less Robocop and more accurately described as "algorithms" (for which we are all probably grateful). Nonetheless I was intrigued by what appeared to be a novel use of AI in the

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