Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026

Degree Name

Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)

Director

Leocadie Lushombo

Abstract

This thesis examines the ethical, social, and economic implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation for the future of work, and advocates for a humancentered AI design, development, and deployment in the workplace. This study investigates the extent to which the accelerating advancement of AI technologies may be contributing to large-scale workforce displacement and the deterioration of meaningful employment within the actual structures of digital capitalism. It critically engages with contemporary scholarship on digital capitalism, highlighting how automation, machine learning, and advanced robotics are transforming labor markets, intensifying inequality, and weakening workers’ positions.

This research argues that the current trajectory of AI deployment is largely shaped by profit-driven imperatives that prioritize efficiency over human well-being. This has led to precarious labor conditions and the risk of structural unemployment. In response, the thesis proposes a human-centered AI ethics grounded in CST principles such as human dignity, subsidiarity, and the common good. It emphasizes that AI should not replace human labor but rather complement and enhance it through collaborative models of human–AI interaction. Methodologically, the study uses the triangulation method, also known as mixed-methods research, which helps to synthesize insights from theological reflection, social analysis, and ethical policies.

The thesis concludes that while AI brings major opportunities for innovation and productivity, its unregulated use threatens to widen social inequalities and erode the dignity of work. It calls for deliberate actions to ensure that technological progress serves the well-being of all. Ultimately, the study contributes to ongoing debates by advocating for a more just and inclusive vision of the future of work in the age of AI.

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