Research on the impact of employee AI identity on employee proactive behavior in AI workplace

Purpose The purpose of our research is to explore the role of employee AI identity in influencing employee proactive behavior and its boundary conditions in AI workplace. Design/methodology/approach Based on the IT identity theory and motivation theory, our research discusses the effects of employee AI identity on employee proactive behavior and regarded the proactive work intention as a mediating variable. Meanwhile, we considered organization inducement as a boundary condition and discussed the moderating effects of it and its two sub-dimensions (development rewards and material rewards). Data were collected from 326 employees and partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyzed and draw the conclusions. Findings Findings showed that employee AI identity significantly affects employee proactive behavior, in which the proactive work intention play a mediating role. Moreover, three subdimensions (relatedness, emotional energy, dependence) of employee AI identity have different effects on formation of employee AI identity. And organization inducement acts as a positive moderating role, development rewards and material rewards play different roles in the formation of organization inducements. Originality/value Our research explores the different paths that influence employee proactive behavior and their boundary moderation, while analyzing the results of these influences in different subdimensions, deepening the research on employee AI identity and organization inducement. Our research is conducive to the development of the identity theory and organizational behavior research and provide suggestions for managers to improve their organizational management level.