Leading with AI: Exploring the influence of AI-enhanced leadership on employee

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of AI-enhanced leadership on employee well-being in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It examine the mediating role of perceived fairness of AI.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was conducted using data collected from a survey of 104 professionals in Tunisia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This research applied the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to test the proposed conceptual framework.

Findings

The results show that AI-augmented leadership has a positive impact on employee well-being. This relationship is partially mediated by perceptions of AI fairness.

Originality/value

This research is among the first to empirically explore the intersection between AI technologies, leader behavior, and employee well-being in the underinvestigated context of the MENA region. It proposes a regionally based, human-centered model of technology leadership, thus addressing the pressing need for ethical and inclusive AI adoption frameworks in public and private organizations undergoing digital transformation.