Working in the digital era: Industrial/organisational psychologists' perspectives on generative artificial intelligence

Abstract

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is transforming workplace practices across industries, including the field of Industrial/Organisational Psychology (IOP). This study explored awareness of, experiences with, and perceived benefits and limitations of GAI among registered Industrial/Organisational psychologists (IOPs) in South Africa. Additionally, it examined their opinions on how GAI will reshape the nature of their daily work and the broader IOP profession. A qualitative research design was employed, utilising reflexive thematic analysis to analyse the data collected through semi-structured online interviews with a purposive sample of nine registered South African IOPs. The sampling strategy used in this study was a non-probability, purposive, and convenience sampling strategy, incorporating volunteer and snowball sampling. The study’s design enabled an in-depth exploration of the participants’ perspectives on the evolving role of GAI in their profession. The data was analysed using Clarke & Braun’s (2017) six phases of reflexive thematic analysis, which included engagement with the data, coding, theme generation, and refinement. Five key themes related to the research questions were identified: GAI usage, GAI perceptions, GAI benefits, GAI limitations, and the future of GAI for IOPs. The findings suggest that while the participants recognised the potential benefits of GAI in enhancing efficiency and streamlining tasks, they also expressed concerns about ethical implications, skills displacement, and the need for professional oversight. They emphasised the importance of balancing GAI integration with human expertise to maintain the profession's integrity. They also highlighted the necessity of developing structured guidelines and training programmes to equip IOPs with the skills required to effectively integrate GAI into their professional practices while maintaining ethical standards. Through this, they felt that IOPs will be able to play an integral role in allowing GAI to be embraced in the workplace while still keeping human employees at the forefront. The study’s findings contribute to the emerging discourse on the intersection of artificial intelligence and professional psychology, offering implications for training, policy development, and the future of work in the field of IOP. Keywords: Generative artificial intelligence, Industrial/Organisational psychologists, GAI- related benefits, GAI-related limitations, GAI-related knowledge, acceptance of technology