Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become widely adopted in different organisations and sectors, impacting many professionals and their jobs. Yet, the way professionals perceive and are impacted by AI implementation, as well as give new meanings to their work identity, remains unclear. Hence, with this study, we aim to better understand how professionals experience AI implementation and its intrapersonal consequences through an inductive qualitative study. We conducted 23 in-depth, semi-structured interviews (about 45 minutes each) with professionals (M=10; F=13) working in different service industries in Europe (e.g., doctors, HR managers, consultants, etc.) and analysed the data using Grounded Theory approaches. Our findings showed that professionals viewed AI not only as a positive or negative factor, but also as a neutral factor. These three perspectives on AI were triggered by different reasons and identity work processes, namely: Alignment between AI implementation and personal values; Sense of (lack of) autonomy, self-esteem, and agency; and AI literacy, training, and upskilling. Moreover, these perspectives were related to both positive and negative intrapersonal outcomes, such as well-being and work estrangement, depending on two boundary conditions: Organisational readiness and maturity towards AI (organisational level); and (Lack of) emotional regulation (individual level). This study contributes to the current identity literature by highlighting professionals’ interpersonal experiences and identity work induced by AI implementations, underlying the importance of individuals’ sense-making processes and reflexivity. This work also offers practical insights for organisations and managers to develop strategies that support psychological and emotional well-being and prevent work estrangement in the AI era.

Authors:
Lara Carminati, University of Twente, Netherlands
Pauline Weritz, University of Twente, Netherlands

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Lara Carminati is an Assistant Professor in Organisational Behaviour & Change Management at the University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-carminati/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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