Fear of technological displacement: A mixed-methods study on ai anxiety and ai adaptation among employees in Turkey

In this study, which aimed to determine the participants' concerns and attitudes towards artificial intelligence, the effects of demographic variables such as gender, age, educational status, work experience, title and department on various artificial intelligence dimensions were statistically examined. According to the findings, women generally exhibited higher average values than men in terms of artificial intelligence anxiety and configuration, while men had higher averages in terms of artificial intelligence attitudes and benefits. While there was no significant difference in terms of artificial intelligence anxiety between age groups, it was observed that young individuals developed more positive attitudes towards artificial intelligence. Significant differences were found in some dimensions according to education level, and significance was especially noted in the dimensions of sociotechnical blindness and artificial intelligence risks. Similarly, significant differences were determined between artificial intelligence attitudes and risks according to work experience and title groups. At the department level, evaluations regarding the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence showed significant differences. Finally, in the correlation analysis, a positive relationship was found between artificial intelligence anxiety and learning, job change, sociotechnical blindness and AI configuration; Negative relationships were found with the attitude, benefits, risks and use of artificial intelligence. Although the participants generally had a positive attitude towards the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the business world, concerns were expressed about its impact on the human workforce and loss of control. While some participants saw this process as a threat regarding the effects of artificial intelligence on professional transformation, others evaluated it as an opportunity.