This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: AI is being integrated into our work at a growing rate. Andreas Bergqvist, a Ph.D. student at the Department of Information Technology, has teamed up with colleagues to investigate how AI, automation and robotization affect work engagement.
We've found that new technology does not automatically lead to higher productivity or increased engagement at work. At the same time, technology changes job tasks, the distribution of responsibilities, skill requirements and opportunities to have a say in one's own work, while also increasing the intensity of work as simple, less demanding tasks disappear. That's why the same technology can lead to both increased engagement and frustration.
A key finding is that work engagement is not determined by the technology itself, but by how the technology affects the ability to perform work that is perceived as meaningful, manageable and conducive to development. We therefore focused on understanding the interplay between people, technology and work organization when new technology is introduced. We are currently developing a framework to help researchers, employers, labor unions and systems developers identify factors that strengthen or could weaken work engagement in digitalized work environments.
We have studied organizations in the IT sector, agriculture and rail transport. These are interesting because they are all undergoing rapid technological development, with AI, automation and robotization playing an increasingly significant role. This enables us to identify which effects appear to be sector-specific and which are more general for working life in the future.
Yes, more than we initially expected. One clear pattern is that technology is no longer merely a tool. It plays an active role in how work is organized, prioritized and carried out.
Employees work with technology, not alongside it. We also found that people across different sectors describe meaningful work in surprisingly similar ways. It involves being able to use one's skills, make professional judgments, solve problems and contribute something of value.
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