•  
  •  
 

Beyond the Project Horizon: Journal of the Center for Project Management Innovation

Abstract

The project investigated responses to an AI displaying emotional qualities, such as fear, through a mixed-methods approach. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two scenarios—one featuring an AI coworker and the other a human coworker and evaluated for emotional attachment and loss. Results revealed that professionals exhibited significant emotional responses to the potential "termination" of an AI team member. Qualitative analysis identified eight themes, including emotional responses and termination. Findings suggest that emotionally expressive AI activates psychological processes akin to human relationships, with implications for AI design, workplace dynamics, and ethical considerations surrounding AI termination.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.