Neuroethical implications of AI-driven productivity tools on intellectual capital: a theoretical and econometric analysis
| Date | 25 December 2024 |
| Pages | 1-23 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-07-2024-0218 |
| Published date | 25 December 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Knowledge management,HR & organizational behaviour,Organizational structure/dynamics,Accounting & finance,Accounting/accountancy,Behavioural accounting |
| Author | Alexandra Codruța Bîzoi,Cristian Gabriel Bîzoi |
Neuroethical implications of AI-driven
productivity tools on intellectual
capital: a theoretical and
econometric analysis
Alexandra Codruța B^
ızoi and Cristian Gabriel B^
ızoi
Department of Management and Entrepreneurship,
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timișoara,
Timișoara, Romania
Abstract
Purpose –This study explores the dual impact of AI-driven productivity tools on employee performance, well-
being and sustainability, focusing on the key metrics of productivity, innovation, stress, job satisfaction and
sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach –The study uses econometric models and simulated data and applies
difference-in-differences and regression analysis to assess the effects of AI tools on 1,000 simulated employees.
Findings –AI tools enhance productivity but offer limited support for innovation. They increase stress and
reduce job satisfaction while improving governance outcomes and transparency.
Research limitations/implications –Using simulated data may limit real-world applicability. Future studies
should validate findings with empirical data regarding long-term sustainability impacts.
Practical implications –A balanced AI strategy combining training and well-being support is vital to mitigate
stress and sustain employee satisfaction during AI integration.
Social implications –Monitoring employee well-being and sustainability metrics is fundamental to ensure
responsible AI adoption.
Originality/value –This research provides new insights into balancing AI’s productivity benefits with its
psychological and ethical implications, offering guidelines for responsible implementation.
Keywords AI-driven productivity tools, Employee well-being, Neuroethical dilemmas, Sustainability,
Econometric analysis
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) transforms how organizations manage performance, foster
innovation, and enhance collaboration. AI-driven tools from Microsoft Viva and Google
Workspace automate routine tasks, enabling employees to focus on strategic and creative
activities, reshaping performance and collaboration (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2014;
Davenport and Ronanki, 2018). These tools improve efficiency and allow employees to
concentrate on strategic activities. However, while AI promises efficiency and innovation, its
impact on employee well-being is less understood.
AI’s influence on human capital—encompassing employees’ skills and competencies—
presents positive and negative outcomes. While AI-driven tools enhance productivity by
Journal of
Intellectual
Capital
1
© Alexandra Codruța B^
ızoi and Cristian Gabriel B^
ızoi. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This
article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may
reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-
commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of
this license may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
The West University of Timis
¸oara supported this article through grant number CNFIS-FDI-2024-F-
0096.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The
research was conducted without commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a
conflict of interest.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1469-1930.htm
Received 18 July 2024
Revised 25 September 2024
23 November 2024
Accepted 25 November 2024
Journalof Intellectual Capital
Vol.26 No. 7, 2025
pp.1-23
EmeraldPublishing Limited
e-ISSN:1758-7468
p-ISSN:1469-1930
DOI10.1108/JIC-07-2024-0218
automating repetitive tasks, they introduce neuroethical concerns, privacy, consent, and data
security (Floridi and Cowls, 2022). AI-driven tools can improve productivity but exacerbate
employee stress due to continuous surveillance and data privacy concerns. Floridi and Cowls
(2022) propose a unified framework for AI ethics, emphasizing beneficence, non-maleficence,
autonomy, justice, and explicability.
AI systems that track real-time performance may pressure employees to meet algorithmic
targets, leading to psychological strain and reduced job satisfaction (Salvi de Pero et al., 2022).
Intrusive monitoring practices are associated with heightened stress and diminished
organizational commitment (Ball, 2021).
Amazon’suse of AI to monitor productivity has been linked to increased employee burnout
(Lecher, 2019). Blackman (2020) found that 52% of employees believe mishandling data
erodes trust and constant surveillance fosters fear and dissatisfaction, decreasing productivity.
The 2019 controversy at Google, where surveillance tools were allegedly used to suppress
dissent, exemplifies the backlash these practices can provoke (Statt, 2019).
To address these issues, the regulatory measures of the European Commission’s AI Act
promote transparency and fairness in AI monitoring (European Commission, 2024). Experts
recommend implementing AI ethics boards to regulate surveillance practices and protect
employee well-being through data governance and organizational justice (Ball, 2021).
Although research focuses on AI’s technological and economic benefits, its psychological
and ethical implications are overlooked (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2014;Davenport and
Ronanki, 2018). This paper addresses this gap by investigating how AI-driven tools affect
productivity and employee well-being, focusing on neuroethical dilemmas related to privacy,
consent, and data security.
The study explores the dual impact of AI tools on the key metrics of productivity,
innovation, stress, job satisfaction, and sustainability while examining the ethical concerns
they raise. Using simulated data and econometric models, it evaluates how AI influences
intellectual capital and employee well-being. Additionally, the paper provides guidelines for
balancing innovation with ethical responsibilities in performance monitoring.
The paper is structured as follows: the literature review discusses current research on AI
tools and neuroethical concerns, followed by a theoretical framework linking AI use to
performance and well-being metrics.
The methodology section explains the simulated data approach, and the empirical analysis
presents findings from Difference-in-Differences (DiD) estimations and multiple regression
analyses. Finally, the paper offers policy recommendations for organizations to balance
productivity gains with ethical considerations and safeguard employee well-being.
2. Literature review
2.1 Introduction of AI in Workplaces: productivity, innovation and intellectual capital
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in modern workplaces,
altering how organizations create, diffuse, and utilize intellectual capital (IC). Among the three
primary components of IC—human, relational, and structural capital—structural capital,
encompassing the systems and processes that support organizational efficiency, has a pivotal
role. In AI-driven workplaces, structural capital enables organizations to harness human and
relational capital by streamlining workflows, automating tasks, and facilitating advanced
knowledge-sharing systems.
AI-driven tools amplify the innovation of organizations with substantial intellectual
capital. Firms with robust structural capital benefit from AI’s ability to enhance cognitive
functions and facilitate seamless knowledge dissemination (Chondough and Chondough,
2022;Tiwari, 2024;Davenport and Ronanki, 2018). Recent studies have elucidated AI’s
transformative role in enhancing structural capital and facilitating the diffusion of intellectual
capital. Camilleri (2024) advocates for a holistic perspective by integrating human and
artificial intelligence within the conceptual framework of intellectual capital, emphasizing the
JIC
26,7
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