Role of Leadership Communication in Organizations’ AI Adoption: The Impact of CEO Transformational Leadership and Supervisors’ Use of Direction-giving and Empathetic Language

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted many organizations to integrate AI tools, but adoption poses challenges. This study examines how CEO transformational leadership and supervisors’ use of direction-giving and empathetic language affect employee openness and support for AI adoption. Findings showed that CEO transformational leadership enhances employee behavioral support for AI adoption, and supervisors’ use of direction-giving and empathetic language positively impacts both employee openness to and behavioral support for AI adoption. Reduced employee feeling of uncertainty mediates these effects. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.