AI, Jobs, and the Automation Trap: Where Is HCI?

Abstract: As AI continues to reshape the workforce, its current trajectory raises pressing questions about its ultimate purpose. Why does job automation dominate the agenda, even at the expense of human agency and equity? This paper critiques the automation-centric paradigm, arguing that current reward structures, which largely focus on cost reduction, drive the overwhelming emphasis on task replacement in AI patents. Meanwhile, Human-Centered AI (HCAI), which envisions AI as a collaborator augmenting human capabilities and aligning with societal values, remains a fugitive from the mainstream narrative. Despite its promise, HCAI has gone ``missing'', with little evidence of its principles translating into patents or real-world impact. To increase impact, actionable interventions are needed to disrupt existing incentive structures within the HCI community. We call for a shift in priorities to support translational research, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and promote metrics that reward tangible and real-world impact.