Why Gen AI Feels So Threatening to Workers
And what leaders can do to ease the anxiety. by Erik Hermann, Stefano Puntoni and Carey K. Morewedge, Harvard Business Review, March-April 2026
” As generative AI begins to handle more cognitive, creative, and interpersonal tasks, many employees perceive it to be a threat to their competence, autonomy, and sense of belonging at work. These psychological disruptions are producing widespread resistance, disengagement, and even covert opposition to AI initiatives. The challenge for leaders is not just technical integration but emotional and social adaptation. To meet that challenge, the authors propose the AWARE framework, which helps leaders address the psychological needs of employees: acknowledge employee concerns, watch for adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviors, align support systems with psychological needs, redesign workflows around human-AI synergies, and empower workers through transparency and inclusion. Leaders that apply this framework can ensure that gen AI tools enhance—rather than erode—workers’ motivation and commitment.” Read the full article.