AI and Workplace Happiness: A Symbiotic Relationship Driving Indonesian Employees’ Engagement

This study explores the relationship between workplace happiness, AI usage, and AI-based engagement, with a particular focus on the mediating role of AI usage. It examines how a positive work environment influences AI adoption and how AI tools, in turn, enhance employee engagement with these technologies. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among white-collar employees in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia, using purposive sampling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. The results demonstrate that workplace happiness significantly influences AI usage, which then positively affects AI engagement. The mediation analysis reveals that AI usage plays a crucial role in linking workplace happiness to enhanced AI engagement, underscoring the importance of cultivating a positive work environment to foster both AI usage and engagement. However, the study is limited by its cross-sectional design, which limits causal inferences, and the focus on white-collar workers in Greater Jakarta, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research should explore longitudinal studies and consider broader populations as well as additional variables influencing AI usage. Organizations can apply these findings to improve employee engagement with AI by promoting a supportive, happy work environment and investing in employee well-being and AI training. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the mediating role of AI usage, an aspect that has been underexplored.