Can artificial intelligence anxiety lead to quiet quitting intention? A moderated mediation analysis with tech-savviness and technostress

Purpose The proliferation of Industry 5.0 technologies in the workplace, such as artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and virtual/augmented reality, has triggered an unprecedentedly rapid metamorphosis of traditional workplace setting. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible impact of such anxiety on a recent trend called “quiet quitting” in the light of Integrated Fear Acquisition Theory and other Socio-Technical theories. Design/methodology/approach A multivariate analysis was conducted with working professionals ( N = 395) from Indian Information technology (IT) and IT enabled Services (ITeS) industries, and conditional indirect effects were tested using SPSS Process Macro. Findings We found support for the impact of few AI anxiety dimensions on quiet quitting and received evidence of the interaction of tech-savviness on the overall relationship between AI anxiety and quiet sitting, which was mediated by technostress. Practical implications The findings are expected to apprise management professionals about the need to consider AI anxiety as a realistic threat for the future of their workforce and provide evidence of the negative impact of AI anxiety on firm productivity by acting as a trigger for quiet quitting. Originality/value This is a unique attempt at linking the growing uneasiness surrounding AI integration at work with a potentially negative workplace outcome – quiet quitting.