Managerial AI Use Risks Damaging Credibility, Study Finds

Managerial AI Use Risks Damaging Credibility, Study Finds

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Managerial AI Use Risks Damaging Credibility, Study Finds

A study of over 1,000 US professionals found that while AI-assisted communication is generally viewed positively, managers using AI heavily risk damaging their credibility; employees perceive sincerity differently in manager vs. self-AI use.

Turkish
United States
TechnologyLabour MarketAiArtificial IntelligenceProductivityManagementTrustWorkplace CommunicationEmployee Perception
MicrosoftLinkedinEurostat
Anthony Coman
What factors influence the differing perceptions of AI-assisted communication between employees and managers?
The perception gap widens significantly when managers rely heavily on AI for communication. Only 40% of employees found managers using high levels of AI assistance to be sincere, compared to 83% for low AI assistance. This suggests that while employees are more tolerant of their own AI use, they are more critical of their managers' use, particularly when it goes beyond basic grammar and editing.
How does managerial use of AI in employee communication affect perceptions of professional credibility and trustworthiness?
A new study reveals that managers using AI to communicate with employees risk damaging their professional credibility. The study, published in the International Journal of Business Communication, surveyed over 1,000 full-time US professionals. Results showed that while AI-assisted messages were generally viewed as efficient and effective, a perception gap emerged when comparing employee-generated versus manager-generated AI-assisted messages.
What are the long-term implications of increasing AI use in workplace communication, and how can managers mitigate potential negative impacts on employee relations?
This research highlights the importance of transparency and authenticity in workplace communication. The negative perception of manager AI use, especially in relational or motivational contexts, suggests a need for managers to be mindful of how AI tools impact their communication style. Future studies should explore how different AI tools and communication strategies influence perceptions of credibility and sincerity.

Cognitive Concepts

3/5

Framing Bias

The headline and introduction emphasize the potential negative consequences of managers using AI in communication, framing AI use as a risk to professional credibility. While the study acknowledges positive aspects, the framing leans towards highlighting the downsides. The emphasis on the perception gap between self-use and manager-use of AI also shapes the narrative towards a critical view of managerial AI adoption.

1/5

Language Bias

The language used in reporting the study's findings is generally neutral. However, phrases like "professional credibility is at risk" and "damage to relationships" could be considered slightly loaded, leaning towards a negative portrayal of AI use by managers. More neutral alternatives might be "potential impact on perceived credibility" and "potential negative effects on relationships.

3/5

Bias by Omission

The study focuses on email communication and doesn't explore other forms of communication where AI might be used by managers. The impact of AI use on other workplace interactions (meetings, feedback sessions etc.) is omitted. Additionally, the study is limited to the US, and the results might not generalize to other cultures with different communication norms and power dynamics.

2/5

False Dichotomy

The study presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between AI-assisted and human-written communication, without fully exploring the nuanced spectrum of AI involvement in writing. There is a lack of exploration of scenarios where AI plays a supporting role, rather than being the primary author.

Sustainable Development Goals

Reduced Inequality Negative
Direct Relevance

The study highlights a potential negative impact of AI usage by managers on the perception of their professionalism and trustworthiness by employees. This can contribute to increased inequality in the workplace, where managers leveraging AI might be perceived differently than employees using the same technology. The difference in perception is particularly significant when AI assistance goes beyond basic grammar and editing, suggesting that more sophisticated AI use by managers may create power imbalances.