Exploring Flow in IT Professionals’ Use of AI-Integrated Tools: Insights from Interviews
摘要
This study explores how AI-enabled work tools influence the Flow experiences of IT professionals, focusing on their potential to enhance or hinder states of deep focus and immersion. Drawing on interviews with 12 IT professionals, the research examines the interplay between AI tools, task characteristics, and Flow preconditions such as goal clarity, feedback, and the challenge-skill balance. The study follows ethical research design recommendations, ensuring participant privacy and informed consent. Findings reveal that AI tools generally play a supportive role, aiding productivity and creativity without consistently inducing Flow states. Their impact depends heavily on task complexity and user goals, with tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT enhancing Flow-related conditions such as feedback and exploratory possibilities. However, limitations such as inaccuracies and poor adaptability to complex tasks occasionally disrupt Flow experiences. The study offers design recommendations to better align AI tools with Flow principles, including enhancing goal clarity, dynamic adaptability, and support for iterative exploration. These insights contribute to the growing discourse on AI’s role in fostering psychological engagement and optimal experiences in professional settings.