What is the human centred impact of Large Language Models on Startup Employee Wellbeing?
Summary
Artificial Intelligence (A.I) has been regarded as one of the most important inventions in modern time. One subset technology that has gained attention in recent years are Large Language Models (LLMs). This is because they raise the possibility of performing knowledge-intensive jobs cheaply and quickly, replacing the need for employees. The sudden adoption of LLMs in the workplace raises concerns on employee wellbeing. Moreso in startup environments, whom are typically the first movers of novel technologies. Whilst current literature looks at this phenomenon from an entrepreneurial performance perspective, this paper takes a more human-centred approach by addressing the question: What is the impact of LLMs on startup employee wellbeing? To investigate this, a qualitative, inductive methodology was employed, focusing on semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and employees from startups that actively use LLMs. Data collection was carried out within the UtrechtInc ecosystem, interviewing 12 Small-Medium Entreprises (SMEs) to ensure relevance and accessibility. By using grounded theory thematic analysis, 8 wellbeing themes were recorded to better understand this poorly documented phenomena (Communication; Learning; Usage; Knowledge Transfer; Accessibility; Job Displacement/Transfer; Trust & Wider Societal Implications). Our respondents confirmed that the themes have some effect, whether positive or negative on startup employee wellbeing. Given their significance, the author concludes that further empirical research is required to confirm their relevancy.