Workplace equality has become prominent in human resource management during the Industry 4.0 era, characterized by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) robotics in manufacturing organizations. This study investigates how organizations’ use of AI robotics makes the educational disparity in workplaces more consequential and how managerial practices can counterbalance such an effect. Drawing from a multisource survey of 1142 employees from 76 manufacturing organizations, we found a significantly positive relationship between employees’ educational level and affective commitment when organizations introduce AI robotics. Nonetheless, this consequence of educational disparity is attenuated when chief executive officers emphasize strategic human resource management, suggesting that managerial practices can counterbalance inequalities caused by AI robotics. Furthermore, employees’ affective commitment is negatively related to their turnover intentions. Our study contributes to a better understanding of employees’ attitudinal reactions in the AI-integrated workplace. We provide theoretical and practical implications for humanizing workplaces in the digital times.
