From The Sourcing Paradox series · Week 3: The human barriers · First shared on LinkedIn, October 21, 2026
In 2025, two researchers writing in the medical journal Cureus proposed Artificial Intelligence Replacement Dysfunction, or AIRD. It's a proposed construct, not a formal diagnosis, describing the psychological strain some people feel when they fear AI will replace their work.
The possible symptoms they describe include anxiety and insomnia, intrusive thoughts about career loss, and a loss of occupational identity.
I'm not a clinician, and I'm not suggesting anyone on your team has a condition. But I think leaders should notice what the paper points to. When people tie their identity to their work, and that work is being automated, the strain shows up somewhere: in sleep, in engagement, in how openly they talk about the tools.
For procurement leaders, that makes AI change people change. The rollout plan needs the same care as the technology plan: honest conversations, clear roles, and a route to support for anyone who's struggling.
So how is your team talking about AI and their jobs: openly, in private, or not at all?
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Sources
- McNamara & Thornton (2025), Artificial Intelligence Replacement Dysfunction (AIRD), Cureus 17(9): e93026. Source
This article is for awareness only and is not medical or mental-health advice. If AI-related job worries are affecting your health, please talk to a qualified professional. Prepared with the assistance of AI; errors are possible. Views are Procademai™'s unless a source is cited. Organization names belong to their owners; mention does not imply endorsement.
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