To Learn or to Ostracize? Observers’ Reactions to Coworkers’ Artificial Intelligence Crafting and the Moderating Role of Goal Interdependence

The literature on artificial intelligence (AI) crafting has focused predominantly on its effects on individuals themselves. However, a crucial yet overlooked issue persists in understanding how coworkers' AI crafting affects observers. Drawing on affective events theory, this study develops a model to examine when and how coworkers' AI crafting influences observers' emotions and behaviors. Using a 2 & times; 2 between-subjects situational experiment (Study 1) and a multi-wave field survey (Study 2), the findings reveal that when observers and coworkers share high cooperative goal interdependence, observers are more likely to feel admiration for coworkers' AI crafting, and in turn to engage in observational learning behaviors. Conversely, when observers and coworkers have high competitive goal interdependence, observers tend to experience contempt for coworkers' AI crafting and are more inclined to engage in workplace ostracism. These findings broaden our understanding of the impact of AI crafting from the perspective of third-party observers and provide practical insights for organizations seeking to manage and leverage AI crafting effectively.