Generative AI (gen AI) has revolutionized workplaces, allowing professionals to produce high-quality work in less time. Whether it’s drafting a performance review, brainstorming ideas, or crafting a marketing email, humans collaborating with gen AI achieve results that are both more efficient and often superior in quality. However, our research reveals a hidden trade-off: While gen AI collaboration boosts immediate task performance, it can undermine workers’ intrinsic motivation and increase feelings of boredom when they turn to tasks in which they don’t have this technological assistance. Our findings have big implications for companies looking to leverage gen AI’s potential gains without hurting their employees’ drive when it comes to their other responsibilities. In four studies involving more than 3,500 participants, we explored what happens when humans and gen AI collaborate on common work tasks. Participants completed real-world professional tasks, such as writing Facebook posts, brainstorming ideas, and drafting emails, with or without gen AI. We then assessed both task performance and participants’ psychological experiences, including their sense of control, intrinsic motivation, and levels of boredom.

Full research : AI makes people far more productive but very less motivated.