Episode 6: How AI Is Changing Our Career Choices, Motivation, and Identity with Dr. Alexis Hanna

In this episode of My Robot Boss, I talk with Dr Alexis Hanna, a management professor at the University of Nevada Reno whose research explores how people find meaningful work and how AI is transforming that process. We dive into how AI is reshaping vocational interests, why some jobs are far more exposed than others, and how identity and motivation shift when technology starts doing the tasks we rely on to feel competent and fulfilled. We also talk about gender differences, student reactions to AI, and what leaders can do to support employees who feel anxious or unsure about the future of their roles.

Top 5 Highlights from Alexis

1. The least exposed jobs to AI based are social and hands-on roles like teachers, nurses, and tradespeople, while high-knowledge and business roles are among the most exposed.
2. People’s sense of identity is tied to the tasks they enjoy at work, and AI can threaten or enhance that identity depending on how leaders redesign roles in an AI-world.
3. A gender trend in the classroom: more male students eagerly embrace AI, while many female students hesitate because they want more human connection in their work.
4. Job crafting with AI can actually improve fit and motivation by letting people offload tasks they dread so they can spend more time on what they love.
5. The most important future leadership skills may be empathy, relationship building, and supporting employees’ self-motivation as roles change rapidly.

Learn more about Dr. Hanna's work:

• Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexi-hanna-830b6884
• Hanna et al. (2024) paper on Interests and AI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2024.104012.
• UNR faculty page: https://www.unr.edu/business/faculty-and-staff/hanna-alexis
• Analytics, Recruitment, and Careers (ARC) lab website: https://arcresearchlab.com/