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Worker and workplace Artificial Intelligence (AI) coexistence: Emerging themes and research agenda

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  • Zirar, Araz
  • Ali, Syed Imran
  • Islam, Nazrul

Abstract

Workplace Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps organisations increase operational efficiency, enable faster-informed decisions, and innovate products and services. While there is a plethora of information about how AI may provide value to workplaces, research on how workers and AI can coexist in workplaces is evolving. It is critical to explore emerging themes and research agendas to understand the trajectory of scholarly research in this area. This study's overarching research question is how workers will coexist with AI in workplaces. A search protocol was employed to find relevant articles in Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases based on appropriate and specific keywords and article inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified four themes: (1) Workers' distrust in workplace AI stems from perceiving it as a job threat, (2) Workplace AI entices worker-AI interactions by offering to augment worker abilities, (3) AI and worker coexistence require workers' technical, human, and conceptual skills, and (4) Workers need ongoing reskilling and upskilling to contribute to a symbiotic relationship with workplace AI. We then developed four propositions with relevant research questions for future research. This review makes four contributions: (1) it argues that an existential argument better explains workers' distrust in AI, (2) it gathers the required skills for worker and AI coexistence and groups them into technical, human, and conceptual skills, (3) it suggests that technical skills benefit coexistence but cannot outweigh human and conceptual skills, and (4) it offers 20 evidence-informed research questions to guide future scholarly inquiries.

Suggested Citation

  • Zirar, Araz & Ali, Syed Imran & Islam, Nazrul, 2023. "Worker and workplace Artificial Intelligence (AI) coexistence: Emerging themes and research agenda," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:124:y:2023:i:c:s0166497223000585
    DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102747
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    5. Ma, Liang & Yu, Peng & Zhang, Xin & Wang, Gaoshan & Hao, Feifei, 2024. "How AI use in organizations contributes to employee competitive advantage: The moderating role of perceived organization support," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    6. Pedota, Mattia & Cicala, Francesco & Basti, Alessio, 2024. "A Wild Mind with a Disciplined Eye: Unleashing Human-GenAI Creativity Through Simulated Entity Elicitation," OSF Preprints 3bn95, Center for Open Science.
    7. Kanzola, Anna-Мaria & Papaioannou, Konstantina & Petrakis, Panagiotis, 2024. "Unlocking society's standings in artificial intelligence," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    8. Irgang, Luís & Sestino, Andrea & Barth, Henrik & Holmén, Magnus, 2025. "Healthcare workers' adoption of and satisfaction with artificial intelligence: The counterintuitive role of paradoxical tensions and paradoxical mindset," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
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    10. Zhou, Qiwei & Chen, Keyu & Cheng, Shuang, 2024. "Bringing employee learning to AI stress research: A moderated mediation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    11. Byung-Jik Kim & Julak Lee, 2024. "The mental health implications of artificial intelligence adoption: the crucial role of self-efficacy," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Jing Wu & Yaoyi Cai, 2025. "The Paradox of AI Knowledge: A Blockchain-Based Approach to Decentralized Governance in Chinese New Media Industry," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-31, October.
    13. Janusz Nesterak & Marek Szelągowski & Przemysław Radziszewski, 2025. "Workplace performance measurement: digitalization of work observation and analysis," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 36(5), pages 3569-3585, June.
    14. Houljakbe Houlteurbe Dagou & Asli Pelin Gurgun & Kerim Koc & Cenk Budayan, 2025. "The Future of Construction: Integrating Innovative Technologies for Smarter Project Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-29, May.
    15. Ioana Maria Popescu (Iacobescu) & Iuliana Zavatin (Chilea) & Daniela-Ioana Manea & Rodica Pamfilie & Alexandru Jurconi, 2024. "Adapting the Competences of the Employed Personnel in the Context of the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Organizations," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(67), pages 817-817, August.
    16. Aleksandra Kuzior & Mariya Sira & Paulina Brożek, 2023. "Use of Artificial Intelligence in Terms of Open Innovation Process and Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    17. José Andrés Gómez Gandía & Sorin Gavrila Gavrila & Antonio de Lucas Ancillo & Maria Teresa del Val Núñez, 2024. "RPA as a Challenge Beyond Technology: Self-Learning and Attitude Needed for Successful RPA Implementation in the Workplace," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 19628-19655, December.
    18. Chao Xu & Sung-Eui Cho, 2025. "Factors Affecting Human–AI Collaboration Performances in Financial Sector: Sustainable Service Development Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-28, May.
    19. EuiBeom Jeong & DonHee Lee, 2025. "AI–human collaboration in services: an integrative framework to uncover the key success factors," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 19(3), pages 1-45, September.
    20. Chankook Park, 2025. "Addressing Challenges for the Effective Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, June.
    21. Wu, Min & Tsai, Nien En & Koh, Le Yi & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2025. "Maritime AI socialisation: Exploring the impact of digital enablers on human-AI collaboration and service and process innovation," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    22. Del Giudice, Manlio & Scuotto, Veronica & Papa, Armando & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2023. "The ‘bright’ side of innovation management for international new ventures," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    23. Paul-Vasile Vezeteu & Dumitru Iulian Nastac, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence Integration in Business: Study of Employee Competences in Relation to the Organisational Needs," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(67), pages 832-832, August.

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