Do robots impact artificial intelligence (AI)-related employment? Evidence from a cross-national study

Purpose - The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics helps firms achieve seamless production, distribution and service delivery. This study uses a sample of developed and developing countries to examine the impact of robots on AI-related employment. Design/methodology/approach - The present study underlies cross-country evidence using a sample of 28 countries between 2016 and 2022. The source data are captured from the Artificial Intelligence Index Report, Statista, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Development Indicators and World Governance Indicators. We employed panel data techniques for analysis purposes. Findings - This study unravels the impact of robot use on AI employment in developed and emerging economies. The dynamic panel threshold regression models support the contention that the effects of robots on AI employment are more complex than they are made to be. The impact varies below and above the threshold of country-specific variables such as internet penetration, innovation parameters, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and labor force quality. Originality/value - This study offers new perspectives on robot and AI-related employment by utilizing a sample of developed and developing countries. It considers the inclusion of country-specific variables. The study provided insights into the economic value creation by labor that would be shaped by the threshold of technological infrastructure, economic conditions and governance standards of countries, thereby contributing to the employment relations literature.