AI Use Is Quietly Raising Employees’ Appetite For Risk

A three-wave longitudinal study of 442 employees found that AI usage significantly increases willingness to take risks at work, with the effect partially explained by a boost in employees’ self-efficacy. Workers who rely on AI tools report feeling more capable, and that confidence translates into bolder decision-making independent of the AI’s actual input.

Reported by: MDPI Behavioral Sciences

Norm's Take

A workforce that feels more capable because of AI will take bigger bets whether or not the AI actually reduces the risk of those bets. Risk and compliance functions should treat rising AI-driven confidence as a new category of behavioral risk, distinct from the technology’s own error rate.

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About the author
Norm Murray
AI Leadership Advisor · Psychologist · Economist
Norm advises CEOs, boards and senior leaders on the psychology and economics of AI adoption: what AI does to leaders and organizations, not just what it does. He has led global businesses across multiple continents and writes The Norm Report for executives navigating the AI shift.
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