Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: 
A Desk-based Empirical Review

Evelyne Ngari; Rosemarie Wanyoike

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

Research Article |

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Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review

Evelyne Ngari

, Rosemarie Wanyoike^*

Published in Journal of Human Resource Management (Volume 14, Issue 1)

Received: 19 January 2026 Accepted: 27 January 2026 Published: 9 February 2026

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Abstract

Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to in abbreviation as ‘AI’, is rapidly gaining popularity in the workplace today. The use of AI may be a source of motivation to the employees, or lack of it for various reasons. This empirical study sought to find out how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences employee motivation at the workplace. Through analysis of various journals, this desk review examined system accuracy, task automation and trust in AI and how these affect employee motivation as the independent variables in the study. To explain motivation as influenced by AI, this review considered enjoyment of work, work involvement and goal achievement as the indicators for motivation which were the independent variables for the study. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Hertzberg Two Factor Theory were used to explain the variables in the study. The desk review revealed that even though there are positive benefits derived from the use of AI, there are a number of issues that have been left unfulfilled by the adoption of the systems at the workplace, some which affect employee motivation. Finally, the review made several recommendations for practice and future research in the area of AI with relation of employee motivation based on the research gaps identified.

Published in	Journal of Human Resource Management (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18
Page(s)	75-81
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Employee Motivation, Artificial Intelligence, Employee Wellbeing

References

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APA Style

Ngari, E., Wanyoike, R. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(1), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

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ACS Style

Ngari, E.; Wanyoike, R. Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. J. Hum. Resour. Manag. 2026, 14(1), 75-81. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

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AMA Style

Ngari E, Wanyoike R. Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. J Hum Resour Manag. 2026;14(1):75-81. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

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@article{10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18,
  author = {Evelyne Ngari and Rosemarie Wanyoike},
  title = {Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: 
A Desk-based Empirical Review},
  journal = {Journal of Human Resource Management},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {75-81},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  abstract = {Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to in abbreviation as ‘AI’, is rapidly gaining popularity in the workplace today. The use of AI may be a source of motivation to the employees, or lack of it for various reasons. This empirical study sought to find out how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences employee motivation at the workplace. Through analysis of various journals, this desk review examined system accuracy, task automation and trust in AI and how these affect employee motivation as the independent variables in the study. To explain motivation as influenced by AI, this review considered enjoyment of work, work involvement and goal achievement as the indicators for motivation which were the independent variables for the study. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Hertzberg Two Factor Theory were used to explain the variables in the study. The desk review revealed that even though there are positive benefits derived from the use of AI, there are a number of issues that have been left unfulfilled by the adoption of the systems at the workplace, some which affect employee motivation. Finally, the review made several recommendations for practice and future research in the area of AI with relation of employee motivation based on the research gaps identified.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: 
A Desk-based Empirical Review
AU  - Evelyne Ngari
AU  - Rosemarie Wanyoike
Y1  - 2026/02/09
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DO  - 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18
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JF  - Journal of Human Resource Management
JO  - Journal of Human Resource Management
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AB  - Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to in abbreviation as ‘AI’, is rapidly gaining popularity in the workplace today. The use of AI may be a source of motivation to the employees, or lack of it for various reasons. This empirical study sought to find out how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences employee motivation at the workplace. Through analysis of various journals, this desk review examined system accuracy, task automation and trust in AI and how these affect employee motivation as the independent variables in the study. To explain motivation as influenced by AI, this review considered enjoyment of work, work involvement and goal achievement as the indicators for motivation which were the independent variables for the study. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Hertzberg Two Factor Theory were used to explain the variables in the study. The desk review revealed that even though there are positive benefits derived from the use of AI, there are a number of issues that have been left unfulfilled by the adoption of the systems at the workplace, some which affect employee motivation. Finally, the review made several recommendations for practice and future research in the area of AI with relation of employee motivation based on the research gaps identified.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Evelyne Ngari

School of Business, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8166-3275
Rosemarie Wanyoike

School of Business, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9021-1965

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ngari, E., Wanyoike, R. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(1), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

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ACS Style

Ngari, E.; Wanyoike, R. Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. J. Hum. Resour. Manag. 2026, 14(1), 75-81. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

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AMA Style

Ngari E, Wanyoike R. Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: A Desk-based Empirical Review. J Hum Resour Manag. 2026;14(1):75-81. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18,
  author = {Evelyne Ngari and Rosemarie Wanyoike},
  title = {Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: 
A Desk-based Empirical Review},
  journal = {Journal of Human Resource Management},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {75-81},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jhrm.20261401.18},
  abstract = {Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to in abbreviation as ‘AI’, is rapidly gaining popularity in the workplace today. The use of AI may be a source of motivation to the employees, or lack of it for various reasons. This empirical study sought to find out how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences employee motivation at the workplace. Through analysis of various journals, this desk review examined system accuracy, task automation and trust in AI and how these affect employee motivation as the independent variables in the study. To explain motivation as influenced by AI, this review considered enjoyment of work, work involvement and goal achievement as the indicators for motivation which were the independent variables for the study. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Hertzberg Two Factor Theory were used to explain the variables in the study. The desk review revealed that even though there are positive benefits derived from the use of AI, there are a number of issues that have been left unfulfilled by the adoption of the systems at the workplace, some which affect employee motivation. Finally, the review made several recommendations for practice and future research in the area of AI with relation of employee motivation based on the research gaps identified.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Artificial Intelligence and Employee Motivation: 
A Desk-based Empirical Review
AU  - Evelyne Ngari
AU  - Rosemarie Wanyoike
Y1  - 2026/02/09
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18
T2  - Journal of Human Resource Management
JF  - Journal of Human Resource Management
JO  - Journal of Human Resource Management
SP  - 75
EP  - 81
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-0715
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20261401.18
AB  - Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to in abbreviation as ‘AI’, is rapidly gaining popularity in the workplace today. The use of AI may be a source of motivation to the employees, or lack of it for various reasons. This empirical study sought to find out how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences employee motivation at the workplace. Through analysis of various journals, this desk review examined system accuracy, task automation and trust in AI and how these affect employee motivation as the independent variables in the study. To explain motivation as influenced by AI, this review considered enjoyment of work, work involvement and goal achievement as the indicators for motivation which were the independent variables for the study. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Hertzberg Two Factor Theory were used to explain the variables in the study. The desk review revealed that even though there are positive benefits derived from the use of AI, there are a number of issues that have been left unfulfilled by the adoption of the systems at the workplace, some which affect employee motivation. Finally, the review made several recommendations for practice and future research in the area of AI with relation of employee motivation based on the research gaps identified.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download