The Sky is the Limit: Maximize the Intention to Accept Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Transformations in the Airline Industry

This study examines the crucial role of leadership, organizational culture, and peer influence in enhancing employee acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled transformation within the airline industry.Acceptance of AI is vital for airlines seeking to leverage technological advancements to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.The study explores how transformational leadership, with a supportive organizational culture and effective peer influence, affects employees' intention to embrace AI transformations mediated by self-efficacy.Data was collected through survey questionnaires distributed to employees of Malaysian airline companies, resulting in 399 valid responses for analysis.Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis, using 5,000 sub-samples to test the significance of the hypothesized relationships.The results indicate that leadership style, organizational culture, and peer influence all positively impact self-efficacy, which in turn enhances the intention to accept AI transformations.Self-efficacy emerged as a significant mediator, emphasizing the need for strategies to boost employee confidence in handling AI technologies.Based on the findings, the study suggests that future research should focus on longitudinal analyses to observe the long-term effects of leadership and cultural practices on AI adoption.Additionally, exploring these dynamics in different geographical regions and sectors could provide broader insights into the factors influencing technology acceptance.The implications of this study are multifaceted, offering valuable guidance for airline companies aiming to implement AI technologies successfully.By fostering transformational leadership and a culture supportive of innovation, companies can enhance self-efficacy among employees, leading to greater acceptance and smoother integration of AI systems.These findings contribute significantly to the literature on technology acceptance in the airline industry and provide practical frameworks for companies to optimize their workforce's readiness for AI advancements.Ultimately, this approach can drive innovation and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving sector.