This article reports on two distinct studies conducted in the context of employees and customers, respectively. The aim of Study 1 is to investigate the influence of anthropomorphism and responsiveness of food delivery people using artificial intelligence (AI) devices on their psychological safety and AI empathy. This study also evaluated the mediating impact of psychological safety and AI empathy with relation to anthropomorphism and responsiveness on AI service quality. In addition, Study 2 examines the impact of perceptions of AI service quality on customer engagement and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, in Study 2, we tested the moderating influence of AI usability on the relationship between AI service quality and customer engagement and on the relationship between AI service quality and customer satisfaction. In Study 1, we collected data from 312 food delivery boys/girls who used AI-based applications to offer e-food restaurant services. This study used a cross-sectional research design. We expand the scope of Study 1 by collecting data from 363 customers of the companies surveyed in Study 1 from eastern and southern parts of China. Study 2 used a time-delayed approach and collected data in two waves three months apart. The overall results of Study 1 and Study 2 support the proposed hypotheses. The results showed the direct and indirect relationship between independent variables (anthropomorphism and responsiveness) and service quality, customer engagement and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the results indicated a significant role of mediators (psychological safety and AI empathy) in Study 1 and moderators (AI usability) in Study 2. This article provided valuable insights for practitioners and researchers concerned with the use and application of AI in deal with the service sector.

This study aims to investigate the exciting world of metaverse gig work, exploring how gig work self-efficacy influences their adoption of gig work itself, along with two key factors: work flexibility and career adaptability. We also examine how these factors act as mediators, mediating the relationship between gig work self-efficacy and gig work adoption. Furthermore, this study explores the moderating impact of professional isolation, a feeling of disconnect from virtual colleagues, on this relationship. This study collected data from gig workers from Pakistan, both from freelance settings and established gig work firms. The data were collected from 316 participants by using a convenience sampling approach, our study findings supported our proposed relationships by indicating gig workers with high gig work self-efficacy are more likely to enjoy both the freedom of schedule (gig work flexibility) and the ability to explore different career paths (career adoptability). These benefits act as significant mediators, helping gig workers embrace gig work in the metaverse more readily. However, professional isolation threw a wrench in the works, and gig workers with high self-confidence may encounter challenges in capitalizing on the full potential of flexibility and adoptability within the gig economy. Results show that professional isolation in the online world surprisingly made it harder for gig workers to connect their belief in themselves, and self-efficacy, with important skills like flexibility and adoptability. This study provides insights into gig workers who have significant effects on organizations and the gig economy in the complex world of the metaverse.

It has been stated that learners who take an active role in their learning are more likely to advance their analytical skills and expand their social connections. However, the process through which learners can expand their social capital is still unexplored. This study employs social cognitive theory to conduct a threefold investigation: (1) determining the impact of learner proactivity on online learner interaction, (2) determining the mediating influence of online learner interaction in the association between learner proactivity and learner social capital; and (3) determining the extent to which perceived peer support (PPS) influences the relationship between learner proactivity and learner social capital. The final sample of 322 respondents from China’s Anhui province was employed in this study. The findings of this study, which were driven by a social cognitive theory, reveal that learner proactivity reaps social networks through online interaction, strengthening learner social capital in virtual learning. This study also found that PPS boosted the indirect influence of online learner interaction in the relationship between learner proactivity and learner social capital.