Why Gen AI Makes Workers Feel Threatened

As generative AI increasingly automates tasks traditionally performed by humans, employees are beginning to reassess their roles and the value they bring to their organizations. Is this shift beneficial or detrimental? To delve into this issue, we combined psychological theories on motivation, performance, and workplace well-being with interdisciplinary research regarding the impact of generative AI on knowledge, tasks, and the social dynamics of workplace productivity. Our findings indicate that outcomes largely depend on whether employees believe that generative AI fulfills or hinders three essential psychological needs: competence (the sense of being effective and capable); autonomy (the feeling of having control over one’s actions); and relatedness (the presence of meaningful interpersonal connections). When these needs are satisfied, workers view generative AI as an asset and a supportive partner. Conversely, when these needs are unmet, employees may feel threatened—sometimes even existentially—and resist the adoption of generative AI.