Eureka! It’s Cobot: Redefining Workplace Happiness in the Human + AI Era
摘要
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly significant role in organizations, attracting substantial research interest. Often regarded as one of the most groundbreaking inventions of the century, AI is claimed to revolutionize businesses both economically and operationally. This chapter challenges the assumption that AI’s impact is confined to economic and operational objectives, arguing that its influence extends far beyond machines and business functions to human emotions and cognition. Beginning with the evolution of AI, we chronologically discuss how AI-powered cobots (collaborative robots) are no longer just machines performing repetitive tasks like their predecessors but have evolved into intelligent companions that complement employees, allowing them to focus on what they value most in organizations—a sense of purpose and happiness. Building on these arguments and real-world industry cases, we emphasize the importance of trust and transparency in leveraging AI to its fullest potential for employees’ well-being, concluding with a discussion on key human skills that remain and will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.