AI-Driven Work Transformation: The Role of Job Identity Threat and Mindset

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces is transforming job roles, yet employees’ reactions to these changes vary. This study investigates how AI-driven work transformation—through automation and augmentation—affects employees’ willingness to use AI via perceived job identity threat. Drawing on the identity threat framework and mindset theory, we propose that employees with a fixed mindset are more likely to experience heightened job identity threats, amplifying the negative effects of automation and diminishing the benefits of augmentation. In contrast, employees with a growth mindset are more adaptable, perceiving AI-driven changes as opportunities, thereby mitigating identity concerns. We use an experimental design to examine AI-work interaction effects, offering theoretical and practical insights into managing job identity threats and promoting AI adaptability among employees.