The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the early stages of its development requires organisational changes and can cause considerable uncertainty among employees. This study aims to focus on analysing the effects of AI adoption on happiness during the initial stages of its development and integration within companies.
A quantitative methodology is used, with a sample of 35 companies from the IBEX 35, and data collected from 2018 to 2023. To analyse the levels of AI adoption and happiness in companies, a descriptive analysis is carried out for each company and sector. To test the research hypothesis, simple linear regression models are used for each year.
The results show that the effect of AI adoption on happiness is negative and significant for the years 2019–2021 and 2023 but is not significant in 2018 and 2022. These are two key points in time marked by the start of AI adoption in companies and the end of the pandemic.
This paper offers a multidimensional approach to measuring and replicating the effect of AI adoption on happiness. Furthermore, it presents a new model, “Augmented Discerniment”, which provides a framework for managing change and resistance to AI adoption in companies.
