How does adoption of artificial intelligence affect employees’ job satisfaction?

In research based on 2009–2020 data from 509 publicly listed US firms, lower and higher levels of adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) were associated with reduced job satisfaction, whereas moderate levels were linked to greater job satisfaction. The findings are published in the Journal of Management Studies.

Investigators also found that firms’ exploration orientation—their tendency towards concepts such as risk taking, experimentation, flexibility, and innovation—significantly shaped this relationship. Employees in high-exploration–oriented companies tolerated higher levels of AI adoption while maintaining job satisfaction than employees in firms with low levels of exploration orientation. Data governance—having a dedicated approach to managing data quality and availability—also had an effect. Firms with pronounced data governance exhibited smaller changes in employee job satisfaction as AI adoption increased than those with weaker data governance.

The research offers a nuanced understanding of how AI adoption influences employees’ job satisfaction.

“Our study contributes to the AI adoption literature by highlighting the previously neglected interplay of enrichment and impairment effects that drive job satisfaction at varying levels of adoption,” the authors wrote. “Our study provides valuable guidance for managers overseeing AI adoption or considering its integration into their organizations.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joms.70004

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
The Journal of Management Studies is a globally respected, multidisciplinary business and management journal with a long-established history of excellence in management research. We publish innovative empirical and conceptual articles which advance the fields of management and organization, welcoming contributions relevant to organization theory, organizational behaviour, human resource management, strategy, international business, entrepreneurship, innovation and critical management studies. We have an inclusive ethos and open to a wide range of methodological approaches and philosophical underpinnings.

About Wiley      
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.