Q&A: How does AI affect our engagement at work?

The integration of artificial intelligence into workplace practices is becoming increasingly prevalent, according to a recent study conducted by a team of researchers. These scientists, led by Ph.D. student Andreas Bergqvist from the Department of Information Technology, sought to understand how the introduction of new technologies like AI, automation, and robotization influence work engagement.

Their findings indicate that while technology does not automatically lead to enhanced productivity or higher engagement, it does bring about significant changes in work tasks, responsibility distribution, skill requirements, and opportunities to influence one's own work.

The study reveals that technology's impact on work engagement is contingent on its effect on perceived job meaning, manageability, and potential for development. Rather than being solely determined by the technology itself, engagement is influenced by how the technology affects an individual's ability to perform work that is deemed meaningful, manageable, and conducive to professional growth.

To delve deeper into this interplay, the researchers have been developing a framework to assist researchers, employers, labor unions, and systems developers in identifying factors that can either bolster or diminish work engagement in digitalized work environments.

The research team has examined organizations across various sectors including IT, agriculture, and rail transport, all of which are experiencing rapid technological advancements. This approach allows them to discern sector-specific effects from more general trends in future working environments. A notable pattern emerging from the study is that technology is no longer merely a passive tool but plays an active role in shaping work organization, prioritization, and execution. Employees are increasingly working alongside technology rather than simply using it.

Moreover, the researchers discovered that people across different sectors describe meaningful work in remarkably similar terms. This involves utilizing one's skills, making professional judgments, solving problems, and contributing valuable outcomes. While technology can facilitate this by eliminating repetitive tasks, it can also undermine meaningful work if the elements that provide sense of purpose are automated away.

The crux of the matter is that technology should be designed to support individuals, rather than replacing aspects of the job that foster motivation and professional pride.

The key takeaway from the findings is that work engagement is bolstered when technology frees time for skilled tasks, expands opportunities to apply one's skills, and empowers employees to participate in shaping their work processes. Crucially, AI, automation, and robotics do not inherently boost productivity or work engagement.

Instead, engagement hinges on whether technological changes facilitate meaningful, manageable work and provide employees with opportunities for development. In essence, technology's role in shaping work engagement is multifaceted and contingent on its ability to support professional growth and empower individuals in the digitalized workplace.