Ever since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, machines have been replacing humans in many occupations and professions. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are many times regarded as disruptive, especially when one looks at how they impact human employment in different sectors of the economy. While it is true that machines are displacing humans from their jobs, there is a need to devise means and ways of preparing for the inevitable labour crisis. This study proposes deskilling and reskilling in records management and archival science as a way to circumvent the impending labour crisis where many work processes and procedures now centre around AI. The study is very useful to serving records management and archival science practitioners who often find it difficult to cope with change, resulting in them being rendered redundant and their many years of work experience washed down the drain. The study shows the importance of education and skills upgrade in records management and archival science for personnel to remain relevant in the midst of the AI revolution. Using Lewin’s change management model, the study provides guidance to records and archives management practitioners to ride with the tide lest they are pushed off the pedestal. Data in this conceptual study are obtained from a systematic literature review of the Scopus and Google Scholar databases focusing on sources published between 2021 and 2025. The query string involved the keywords: “deskilling AND reskilling AND AI job threats OR records management and archival science”.

Authors:
Samson Mutsagondo, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Samson Mutsagondo is currently an Assistant Professor of Records Management and Archival Science at Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samson-mutsagondo-a3a80a116/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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