Organizations increasingly integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT as task support into the workplace. While these tools can enhance productivity, understanding their psychological impact on employees’ perceptions becomes crucial for effective implementation. Based on social response theory, this study examines how ChatGPT influences employees’ job satisfaction, mediated by perceived organizational support, opportunity to perform, and job insecurity. Using a pre-post measurement design, we conducted a 2x2 between-subject vignette experiment with 202 participants and manipulated the type of task support (i.e., ChatGPT vs. human coworker) (T1) and the nature of supervisor feedback (i.e., positive vs. negative) (T2) for a writing task. The results indicate that ChatGPT task support, compared to task support by human coworkers, led to lower perceived organizational support and opportunity to perform, as well as increased perceived job insecurity—factors that negatively impacted job satisfaction. These findings suggest that while generative AI can offer task support, its use can have a negative psychological impact on employees’ perceptions. Task support by human coworkers, therefore, remains crucial for maintaining job satisfaction, underscoring the need for thoughtful integration of generative AI into workplaces.
