AI has become a revenue driver, which propels companies to invest more in AI applications. A growing body of research suggests contrasting views of AI's implication on employees, with some consider AI will augment employees' capabilities, and others regard AI will substitute employees. This study assumes the key difference lies in whether employees or AI takes control over the tasks. Based on this assumption, we use the lens of need satisfaction to posit that AI control will reduce employee autonomy and competence need, which further decrease employee approach-oriented crafting and increase employee avoidance-oriented crafting. We then examine the contingency – AI task complexity on the relationship between AI control and need satisfaction. Three studies were employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Study 1 developed a reliable and valid measure of AI control construct. The results from Studies 2 and 3 (Study 2: N = 271; Study 3: N = 113) presented how AI control influence employees’ reactions. This set of studies provides evidence of the impact of AI control on employee need satisfaction and further job crafting actions, and the effect of AI task complexity, thus providing timely insights on employees’ reactions to the implementation of AI in the workplace.

Authors:
Jieqiong Cao, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
Jingxian Yao, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Jieqiong Cao is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences in Singapore

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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