Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI
Implementing black-box artificial intelligence (AI) often requires evaluating trade-offs related to responsible AI (RAI) (e.g., the trade-off between performance and features regarding AI's fairness or explainability). Synthesizing theories on regulatory focus and cognitive dissonance, we devel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000720 |
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| author | Samuel N. Kirshner Jessica Lawson |
| author_facet | Samuel N. Kirshner Jessica Lawson |
| author_sort | Samuel N. Kirshner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Implementing black-box artificial intelligence (AI) often requires evaluating trade-offs related to responsible AI (RAI) (e.g., the trade-off between performance and features regarding AI's fairness or explainability). Synthesizing theories on regulatory focus and cognitive dissonance, we develop and test a model describing how organizational goals impact the dynamics of AI-based unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). First, we show that promotion-focused goals increase AI-based UPB and that RAI values act as a novel mediator. Promotion-focus goals significantly lower fairness in Study 1A and explainability in Study 1B, mediating the relationship between regulatory focus and AI-based UPB. Study 2A further supports RAI values as the driving mechanism of AI-based UPB using a moderation-by-processes design experiment. Study 2B provides evidence that AI-based UPB decisions can, in turn, lead to more unethical RAI values for promotion-focused firms, creating a negative RAI feedback loop within organizations. Our research provides theoretical implications and actionable insights for researchers, organizations, and policymakers seeking to improve the responsible use of AI. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4ecec71feca43669153573967b0e0cb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2949-8821 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4ecec71feca43669153573967b0e0cb2025-08-20T02:00:59ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans2949-88212025-03-01310011210.1016/j.chbah.2024.100112Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AISamuel N. Kirshner0Jessica Lawson1Corresponding author. 2101A Quadrangle Building, UNSW Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.; UNSW Business School, University of New South Wales, AustraliaUNSW Business School, University of New South Wales, AustraliaImplementing black-box artificial intelligence (AI) often requires evaluating trade-offs related to responsible AI (RAI) (e.g., the trade-off between performance and features regarding AI's fairness or explainability). Synthesizing theories on regulatory focus and cognitive dissonance, we develop and test a model describing how organizational goals impact the dynamics of AI-based unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). First, we show that promotion-focused goals increase AI-based UPB and that RAI values act as a novel mediator. Promotion-focus goals significantly lower fairness in Study 1A and explainability in Study 1B, mediating the relationship between regulatory focus and AI-based UPB. Study 2A further supports RAI values as the driving mechanism of AI-based UPB using a moderation-by-processes design experiment. Study 2B provides evidence that AI-based UPB decisions can, in turn, lead to more unethical RAI values for promotion-focused firms, creating a negative RAI feedback loop within organizations. Our research provides theoretical implications and actionable insights for researchers, organizations, and policymakers seeking to improve the responsible use of AI.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000720Responsible AIRegulatory focusUnethical pro-organizational behavior |
| spellingShingle | Samuel N. Kirshner Jessica Lawson Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans Responsible AI Regulatory focus Unethical pro-organizational behavior |
| title | Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI |
| title_full | Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI |
| title_fullStr | Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI |
| title_short | Preventing promotion-focused goals: The impact of regulatory focus on responsible AI |
| title_sort | preventing promotion focused goals the impact of regulatory focus on responsible ai |
| topic | Responsible AI Regulatory focus Unethical pro-organizational behavior |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000720 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samuelnkirshner preventingpromotionfocusedgoalstheimpactofregulatoryfocusonresponsibleai AT jessicalawson preventingpromotionfocusedgoalstheimpactofregulatoryfocusonresponsibleai |