Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IT identity: Antecedents Identifying with AI Applications

Abstract

In the age of Artificial Intelligence and automation, machines have taken over many key managerial tasks. Replacing managers with AI systems may have a negative impact on workers’ outcomes. It is unclear if workers receive the same benefits from their relationships with AI systems, raising the question: What degree does the relationship between AI systems and workers impact worker outcomes? We draw on IT identity to understand the influence of identification with AI systems on job performance. From this theoretical perspective, we propose a research model and conduct a survey of 97 MTurk workers to test the model. The findings reveal that work role identity and organizational identity are key determinants of identification with AI systems. Furthermore, the findings show that identification with AI systems does increase job performance.