A person-centric dynamic view of responsible AI use: The role of behavioral signatures in supply chains

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in supply chain operations, understanding how supply chain managers engage with these technologies in a responsible and context-sensitive manner is essential for advancing sustainable supply chain. Existing research tends to treat AI use as a trait-based phenomenon, overlooking the behavioral dynamics the same manager could exhibit across varied situations. This perspective article introduces the concept of the responsible AI use signature (RAI Signature), grounded in Cognitive-Affective Personality System theory (CAPS), to capture the stable yet dynamic patterns of responsible AI behavior demonstrated by the same manager across task, relational, and geographical contexts. A multi-level conceptual framework is developed to explain how RAI signature emerges and how it influences sustainable supply chain outcomes. Drawing on CAPS, this perspective article argues that RAI signature reflects the activation of cognitive-affective units in response to situational cues, moderated by individual, organizational, and technological factors. Three main propositions are developed to advance theory by shifting the focus from static competencies to within-person behavioral variability, offering a new lens for understanding, measuring, and developing managerial capacity in AI-enabled supply chains. This article contributes to research at the intersection of responsible AI, supply chain sustainability, and human-centered digital transformation.