Manufacturing’s AI Dystopia and Next Steps

AI (artificial intelligence) brings promise—but also profound unease within manufacturing. In this commentary, we examine the darker, dystopian lens through which many in the industry view technology. This week’s commentary builds on blog series, following on from last week’s deeper discussion examining manufacturing’s utopian vision of technology.

Let’s start by asking what is the dystopian view of technology in the manufacturing industry? Manufacturing’s darker AI narratives focus on loss of agency. We are no longer influencing real outcomes. Rather algorithms dictate production schedules. Systems optimize throughput while ignoring human cost. Factories move faster than people can reasonably adapt overall. Simply, we are talking about a fatalistic view of the future.

We have seen similar tensions before. Automation waves have periodically created fear of displacement. The rise of globalized, internet-enabled supply chains increased efficiency—but also fragility and worker alienation.

Hyper-automation without workforce transition plans ...