Historical perspective
Artificial intelligence (AI) has gone from being a theoretical concern to becoming a central axis of contemporary technological transformation in just a few decades. Its development has been marked by philosophical questions, scientific advances and political debates that have redefined our relationship with machines. Understanding this evolution is essential to analyse not only its conceptual foundations, but also its social, economic, and organisational implications in an increasingly automated world.
To understand this evolution, it is necessary to go back to 1950, when Alan Turing asked the question: “Can machines think?” This question marked the beginning of an intellectual revolution, giving rise to one of the most fascinating fields of modern science: artificial intelligence (AI). Since its first conceptualisation, AI has evolved from simple logical algorithms to systems capable of learning, reasoning, and making complex decisions. The pioneers of this discipline, such as Turing, McCarthy and Minsky, laid the theoretical foundations that still support its development today. Thanks to its contributions, AI has become a key tool in numerous scientific disciplines and industrial sectors.
On the other hand, according to the European Parliament (2020), AI is the ability of machines to imitate human functions such as learning, decision-making, and problem-solving. It is now being applied in sectors such as energy, health, transport, security and industry, demonstrating its growing influence in the world of work.
As Innerarity (2025) points out, at the rate at which AI is progressing, it is necessary to assess its social, political, and personal impacts. In his work “A Critical Theory of Artificial Intelligence”, he reflects on the delegation of everyday and political decisions to automated systems, putting human sovereignty at risk. It insists on the concept of algorithmic governance, where data and algorithms play a central role in public decision-making, and proposes a political vision based on equality and the democratisation of the algorithmic environment, suggesting a new pact between humans and machines.
In today’s business environment, marked by accelerated digital transformation, AI has established itself as a key tool for optimising processes, improving productivity, and supporting strategic decision-making. Its incorporation enables the automation of routine tasks, the analysis of large volumes of data, and the anticipation of trends, thereby redefining the professional profiles and skills required. However, their deployment also raises crucial questions regarding equity within organisations, especially regarding the distribution of power, access to development opportunities, and potential biases that may influence task allocation, performance appraisals, and selection processes.
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