The Research Desk
Scientists at NYU found AI use at work boosts life satisfaction but also increases loneliness among U.S. employees.
Associations of artificial intelligence use at work with psychological distress, loneliness, and life satisfaction among employed US adults.
- Relationships
- Engagement
Bather, J., Cuevas, A., Goodman, M., Pagán, J.
In plain language
This study investigates how using artificial intelligence (AI) at work affects the psychological well-being of employed adults in the United States. Drawing on data from a large, representative survey, the researchers examined the relationships between AI use in work tasks and levels of life satisfaction, loneliness, and psychological distress.
The findings suggest that while AI use is linked to increased life satisfaction, it also correlates with a heightened sense of loneliness among workers. Interestingly, there was no significant connection between AI use and psychological distress, indicating that AI's impact on well-being may be nuanced and dependent on specific aspects of psychosocial health.
Key findings
- Greater AI use at work is associated with a 0.11 standard deviation increase in life satisfaction.
- AI use is linked to a 13% higher prevalence of feeling lonely.
- There is no significant relationship between AI use and moderate-to-severe psychological distress.
- The most common AI tasks at work include searching for information and writing communications.
- 51.7% of employed U.S. adults use AI in their work tasks.
Why it matters
This research highlights the dual impact of AI on well-being, suggesting that while it may enhance life satisfaction, it can also increase feelings of loneliness.
Try this today
Readers could consider balancing their use of AI at work with activities that foster social connections to mitigate loneliness, while leveraging AI for tasks that enhance efficiency and satisfaction.