Mediator analysis.

The rapid advancement of AI technology has accelerated the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in the workplace, eroding the boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal space, thus impacting employees’ innovative performance. This study empirically examines the link between innovative job performance and GenAI tool usage, framed through the Uses and Gratifications Theory. Analyzing survey data from 366 employees nationwide revealed that: (1) both cognitive and social uses of GenAI tools significantly enhance innovative performance; (2) cognitive use primarily facilitates knowledge transfer behaviors, while social use bolsters resource acquisition. Enhanced knowledge transfer and resource acquisition, in turn, improve job satisfaction, which is pivotal in driving innovative performance. This study introduces a novel framework for utilizing GenAI tools to optimize and manage employee performance within organizational settings.