Book review of Schellmann, H. (2024). The Algorithm – How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired and Why We Need to Fight Back Now. New York: Hachette Books. 336 pp. ISBN 9780306827365

Authors

  • Georges El Hajal NHL Stenden University

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, human-centred AI, talent management, algorithmic management, workforce automation

Abstract

This book review examines Hilke Schellmann’s The Algorithm, a critical exploration of AI’s growing role in workplace decision-making. The book highlights the unintended consequences of unregulated AI systems in hiring, productivity tracking, and talent management, emphasizing ethical, legal and societal concerns. Through compelling case studies, Schellmann critiques AI tools’ biases, surveillance practices, and pseudoscientific underpinnings. While the book persuasively advocates for transparency, accountability, and regulation, it underrepresents successful examples and practical solutions. The book is positioned as a guide for job seekers, HR professionals, policymakers, and academics; it aligns with contemporary research in AI ethics and labour automation, offering a timely and essential call for a human-centred approach to algorithmic technologies.

Published

2025-01-24

How to Cite

El Hajal, G. (2025). Book review of Schellmann, H. (2024). The Algorithm – How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired and Why We Need to Fight Back Now. New York: Hachette Books. 336 pp. ISBN 9780306827365. ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy, 6, 73. Retrieved from https://journal.robonomics.science/index.php/rj/article/view/73