Title: Intention to use AI among HR professionals; a UTAUT-based study

Authors: Muhammad Tahir; Premkumar Arul

Addresses: Business Studies Department, College of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman ' Business Studies Department, College of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the intention to use artificial intelligence and its actual usage by HR staff using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Additionally, we tested demographic variables of gender, age, work experience, and voluntariness as moderators. The study utilises a quantitative approach and cross-sectional survey method for data collection (n = 185). The analysis consisted of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for testing the reliability and validity. Furthermore, we tested hypotheses and the result shows that UTAUT-based variables including effort expectancy (β = 0.436, P < 0.05); and social influence (β = 0.237, P < 0.05) exert a positive and significant effect on intention to use artificial intelligence. Furthermore, we found that facilitating conditions (β = 0.334, P < 0.05); and intention to use (β = 0.395, P < 0.05) have a positive and significant influence on the actual use of artificial intelligence. Based on the findings, a number of conclusions are drawn, and implications are discussed.

Keywords: acceptance; theory; artificial intelligence; human resource.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2025.145900

Middle East Journal of Management, 2025 Vol.12 No.3, pp.330 - 348

Received: 17 Oct 2023
Accepted: 07 Feb 2024
Published online: 30 Apr 2025 *

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