Human-AI Collaboration and Employee Creativity: A Dual-Pathway Perspective of Challenge and Hindrance Stressors

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now widely used in the workplace. As a result, human–AI collaboration plays an increasingly important role in employee creativity. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework and Organizational Support Theory, this study examines the mediating roles of challenge and hindrance stressors in the relationship between human–AI collaboration and employee creativity. It also investigates the moderating role of perceived organizational support. Survey data were collected from 292 Chinese employees with human–AI collaboration experience and analyzed using SPSS 27.0, AMOS 24.0, and the PROCESS macro. The results show that challenge stressors significantly mediate the positive relationship between human–AI collaboration and employee creativity. Hindrance stressors also exhibit a significant indirect effect; however, the effect is positive, contrary to the hypothesized negative direction. In addition, perceived organizational support strengthens the positive relationship between challenge stressors and employee creativity. Overall, these findings further clarify the psychological mechanisms through which human–AI collaboration influences employee creativity and highlight the important role of organizational support in strengthening the positive effect of challenge stressors on Employee creativity.