An incoming threat: the influence of automation potential on job insecurity

Purpose In today’s digital age, news and social media are abuzz with ChatGPT and a myriad of advanced AI tools. Experts from disciplines like computer science and socioeconomics have discussed the profound transformations AI can bring. While certain industries have embraced AI, its penetration across all sectors remains uneven. Yet, even with this limited adoption, the psychological ramifications it presents for workplace employees are profound. Our study integrated social information processing and transactional stress theories to analyze the effect of automation brought by AI on job insecurity. Our study also considers whether moderating factors like supervisor–subordinate relationships and social media engagement can alleviate the adverse consequences of automation. Design/methodology/approach We empirically test our research hypotheses with longitudinal data from the US General Social Survey (GSS). Findings Using US General Social Survey data, our findings indicate that employees in industries with high automation potential are more susceptible to job insecurity. Interestingly, social media engagement appears to dampen this relationship, while the quality of the supervisor–subordinate relationship shows negligible impact. Originality/value This study provides valuable insights into the effects of automation potential and the role of social media engagement in coping with it, making a meaningful contribution to the existing literature in this area.