How and when artificial intelligence usage facilitates task performance

This study investigated how the increasing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in diverse business applications has affected task performance. Building on the job demands–resources model, we employed moderated mediation modeling to investigate the association between AI usage and the task performance of delivery drivers. Participants comprised 251 delivery drivers who completed online surveys over a 1-month period. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that work engagement played a mediating role in the association between AI usage and the task performance of delivery drivers. Moreover, the mediating role of work engagement was moderated by an individual’s concept of their future work self. When an individual had a stronger sense of their future work self, the mediating role of work engagement became more pronounced. This study has introduced a new mediating mechanism linking artificial intelligence with employee performance and has identified boundary conditions that increase its beneficial impact on employee performance, thus contributing theoretically to the extant literatures. The study findings can help companies improve employee engagement and performance.