Unveiling the hidden dynamics: Synthesising evidence of the unintended consequences of artificial intelligence

Although the democratisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to accelerate, its implications for end users remain insufficiently explored. This paper investigates the unintended consequences of AI democratisation by focusing on the ‘invisibles’—individuals whose essential contributions are frequently overlooked. Drawing on the analysis of 40 qualitative studies, the findings reveal a complex interplay of economic, socio-cultural, and infrastructure factors shaping AI democratisation. Advancing the discourse beyond technological determinism and social shaping, the paper contributes to the field by introducing the Sociotechnical Invisibility Framework (SIF), which elucidates how AI creates unintended consequences by redistributing and reshaping visibility in the workplace, generating both opportunities (such as assistive tools) and challenges (such as job displacement). The paper provides managerial implications by demonstrating how organisational governance and structure, not technology alone, are critical determinants of workplace outcomes.