Artificial Intelligence and Professionals’ Work Alienation:

This thesis explores how artificial intelligence (AI) affects professionals’ identity and feelings of work alienation. As AI is increasingly integrated into the workplace, its effects on how professionals relate to their work have become more significant but are still unclear. The study employs a qualitative approach, comprising seven semi-structured interviews with professionals from diverse fields who implement AI in their roles and jobs. Following Thematic Analysis and Gioia's methodology, the results of this thesis offer insight into how AI influences professional identity, autonomy, and engagement. The findings show two contrasting experiences. For some professionals, AI disrupted their sense of meaning, reduced autonomy, and challenged their identity, leading to emotional detachment. For others, AI enhanced their role, supported their values, and fostered a stronger connection to their work. These differences highlight that the impact of AI depends heavily on how it is implemented and how professionals perceive their agency over it. This study contributes to current literature by shifting attention toward the emotional and identity-based effects of AI, offering practical insights for organizations on how to implement AI in ways that support, rather than alienate, their workforce.