The Impact of AI Usage on Innovation Behavior at Work: The Moderating Role of Openness and Job Complexity

Abstract

In the context of the digital transformation era, the extensive application of artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly altering the workplace environment, thereby underscoring the critical need to elucidate its impact on employee innovation behavior. Such insights are essential for optimizing human resource management and enhancing organizational competitiveness. Grounded in cognitive evaluation theory, this study explores the underlying mechanisms through which AI usage influences employee innovation behavior and develops an integrated theoretical model that incorporates both employee personality traits and job characteristics. A two-wave questionnaire survey was conducted, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses using a sample of 339 employees from 13 manufacturing enterprises in China. The findings reveal that AI usage is positively associated with employee innovation behavior, with self-efficacy serving as a significant mediator. Furthermore, openness and job complexity positively moderate the relationship between AI usage and self-efficacy, thereby facilitating innovative behavior. Additionally, a moderated mediation mechanism was identified. The conclusions of this study not only enrich the theoretical understanding of how AI impacts employee innovation behavior but also offer practical guidance for organizations on leveraging AI to foster innovation during digital transformation.