Collective imaginaries for the futures of care work

Care work, encompassing physical, emotional, and developmental support, is essential yet often undervalued reproductive labour within capitalist systems. Advancements in automation, robotics, AI, and mixed reality are poised to alter care work, raising questions to explore their roles in reshaping caregiving practice, the workforce, workplaces, and ecological care systems. This workshop aims to challenge three dominant narratives surrounding emerging technology and future care work: technology as a solution to the care crisis, aggressive technology investment in the growing care economy, and overlook of the ‘end of (care) jobs’ in post-work discourse. Drawing on CSCW and HCI research, this workshop investigates the complex sociotechnical ecologies of care, envisioning future scenarios through participatory speculative design. By fostering dialogue among diverse participants, the workshop aims to explore the potential impacts of emerging technologies on care work, with a focus on holistic employee wellbeing, worker rights, equity, ethical integration, and socioeconomic dynamics.