Episode 12: The Psychology of AI Resistance

Why do smart people still hesitate to adopt AI?

In this episode of STAI Tuned, Stella and Aiden explore the hidden forces driving AI resistance in the workplace, drawing on new research from Confronting and Alleviating AI Resistance in the Workplace: An Integrative Review.

They unpack why AI resistance runs far deeper than fear of automation, touching identity, trust, control, and psychological safety. For trainers, coaches, and learning leaders, understanding these dynamics is critical not just for adoption but for delivering truly effective AI-powered learning.

You’ll hear how thoughtful design, transparency, and co-creation can turn resistance into confidence, and why Smart-Training AI is built with these human-first principles at its core, empowering trainers to amplify, not replace, the human connection at the center of learning.

If you’re leading change, training, or talent development, this is essential listening.

Key Talking Points:

• Why AI resistance is often identity-based, not purely technical
• The 3 core drivers of AI resistance: fear, inefficacy, and antipathy
• How trainers and L&D leaders can build psychological readiness for AI
• The risk of “silent disengagement” when resistance isn’t addressed
• Designing AI-powered learning with trust, agency, and inclusion at the core

Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smart-Training AI⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, insights, and more strategies to help your team thrive: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/smart-trainingai.⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is narrated by Stella and Aiden, AI-generated voices created by Smart-Training AI. All content is developed by our human team with the help of real-world neuroscience, training insight, and AI-powered tools.

STAI Tuned Episode 12, The Psychology of AI Resistance, was first published on June 19, 2025.