Human Responses to AI-Enabled Leadership: The Effects of Algorithmic Trust and Fairness on Digital Citizenship Behavior

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into educational organizations has reshaped leadership practices and influenced how employees respond to technology-driven organizational changes. However, limited empirical evidence explains the psychological and behavioral mechanisms through which employees respond to AI-enabled leadership in multilevel contexts. This study investigated human responses to AI-enabled leadership by examining its influence on individual-level digital citizenship behavior through the mediating role of algorithmic trust and the moderating role of perceived algorithmic fairness. A quantitative, applied, and correlational research design was employed using a multilevel approach. Data were collected from employees in educational institutions through standardized questionnaires. Hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and multilevel analysis in R software. Findings showed that AI-enabled leadership positively influenced algorithmic trust and digital citizenship behavior. Algorithmic trust also positively affected digital citizenship behavior and partially mediated the relationship between AI-enabled leadership and employees’ digital citizenship behavior. Furthermore, perceived algorithmic fairness strengthened the relationships between AI-enabled leadership and algorithmic trust as well as digital citizenship behavior. Moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that the indirect effect of AI-enabled leadership on digital citizenship behavior through algorithmic trust increased at higher levels of perceived algorithmic fairness. The study highlights the importance of understanding human responses to AI-enabled leadership, emphasizing the critical roles of algorithmic trust and perceived fairness in promoting responsible and adaptive digital behaviors.