Emotions, AI & Entrepreneurship

Sammanfattning

The relationship between emotions and entrepreneurship has recently garnered increased attention within the scientific community; however, much remains to be explored (Cardon et al., 2012; Lu et al., 2022). Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into micro and small enterprises introduces a complex new variable to consider in the entrepreneurial journey. This study aims to investigate the interconnection between Emotions, AI, & Entrepreneurship by examining how, based on entrepreneurs’ appraisals, which emotions AI elicits in alignment to the dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO). To achieve this, the study combines the EO theory with Roseman’s appraisal theory of emotions. Employing a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with entrepreneurs located in the Stockholm area. The findings reveal that AI elicits a range of emotions, with pride being the most prominent across all EO dimensions. Secondly, Innovativeness was primarily associated with joy, Proactiveness demonstrated a balanced mix of positive and negative emotions (love, dislike, and shame), and Risk-taking was predominantly linked to negative emotions such as fear and shame. This research contributes to the existing literature by addressing the intersection of Emotions, AI, and Entrepreneurship, offering novel insights, integrating appraisal theory with the EO framework, and proposing several avenues for future research. These insights can also guide scholars in preparing entrepreneurship students to navigate this emerging landscape more effectively and help entrepreneurs themselves to become more aware of the emotional implications that AI can have on their decision-making and well-being.