The Double-Edged Sword of GenAI Feedback: How Generative AI Influences Employee Motivation and Perceived Devaluation

A study of 350 MBA students and 42 information systems graduates found that feedback from generative AI (AI systems that create new text or content) has mixed effects on workers: it boosts confidence in their abilities and motivation, but simultaneously makes them feel devalued and replaceable because the AI can perform the same tasks independently. The research also discovered that GenAI creates 'prompt engineering convergence' (where different types of work become repetitive prompting and reviewing tasks), which doesn't motivate workers the way traditional job variety does.