Background: This study examines the influence of Generative Artificial
Intelligence (GenAI) use at work on various job characteristics, employing
Parker and Knight's (2023) SMART model. Generative AI (an advanced type of
artificial intelligence that creates original content by analyzing extensive
datasets) has the potential to reshape workplace practices and change jobs.
Given its transformative potential, it is crucial to understand the influence of
generative AI on job characteristics and their subsequent impact on key
psychological states such as work meaningfulness. Specifically, this study
investigates GenAI's influences on perceived skill variety, autonomy, job
feedback, social support, and role overload, and examines the indirect impact of
GenAI use on perceived work meaningfulness through these job characteristics.
Additionally, the study examines how individual attitudes toward GenAI
moderate these relationships
Method: Date were collected at three time points separated by 1.5 months from
a sample composed of Spanish employees working in various sectors.
Moderated mediation analysis was implemented to estimate the examined
relationships.
Results: Preliminary results based on the first wave of data indicate significant
positive relationships between GenAI use and all the job characteristics
considered (skill variety, autonomy, job feedback, social support, and role
overload). Furthermore, preliminary findings suggest a positive indirect effect of
GenAI use on job meaningfulness through the first four work characteristics,
and a negative indirect effect via role overload. Moreover, attitudes toward
GenAI significantly moderated the relationships between GenAI use and skill
variety, autonomy, and social support, and the corresponding indirect effects.
The involved positive relationships were higher as attitudes toward GenAI
increase.
Conclusion: The use of GenAI at work represents a double-edged sword,
generating both positive and negative indirect effects on job meaningfulness
through different job characteristics. Organizations must carefully manage
GenAI implementation to prevent negative consequences via increased role
overload.