When artificial intelligence becomes a job resource: how psychological capital fuels innovation in algorithm-driven workplaces

Abstract

Introduction – This paper examines the relationship between AI adoption and employees’ innovative work behavior (IWB), focusing on the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating role of perceived error management culture. Methods – Using two-wave survey data, we tested the hypothesized relationships with SPSS 27.0 and Mplus 8.0. Results – The results show that AI adoption is positively related to employees’ psychological capital, which in turn is positively related to IWB. In addition, perceived error management culture strengthens the positive relationship between AI adoption and psychological capital, thereby strengthening the indirect relationship between AI adoption and IWB through psychological capital. Discussion – By conceptualizing AI as a new form of job resource, this study examines the internal mechanism and boundary condition underlying the AI-innovation link through a “technology-psychology-behavior” framework. Theoretically, we extend JD-R theory to the AI context and incorporate error management culture through trait activation theory. In practice, we provide empirical evidence on how AI adoption is associated with employee innovation through psychological capital.