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PurposeCryptocurrencies such as bitcoins represent a novel method of conducting financial transactions and exchanging money. However, their adoption by the general public remains low. Within countries facing financial distress and characterized by a high level of risk, cryptocurrency adoption might offer opportunities for countering crises. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence individuals' adoption of cryptocurrencies for financial transactions within a high-risk context.Design/methodology/approachTo do so, it presents a behavioral model, which is tested using data collected from a survey of 255 respondents residing in Lebanon. The causal relationships between the different factors and individuals' willingness to use cryptocurrencies were then analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling.FindingsFindings show that financial technology awareness and social influence contribute to reducing perceived risk and increasing individuals' willingness to use cryptocurrencies, while individuals' risk aversion and the presence of regulatory support increase the perceived risk of cryptocurrencies.Originality/valueThe study is among the first to use a human-centered approach to understanding cryptocurrency adoption and takes place within a country that is facing a deep financial crisis. Its outcomes contribute to existing theories of cryptocurrency adoption and provide policymakers with insight into how adoption is unfolding namely in developing countries.

Purpose As artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular and accessible, most companies have recognized its far-reaching potential. However, despite numerous research papers on organizational adoption of new technologies including AI, little is known about individual employees’ intentions to use them. Given that organizational innovations are of limited value if they are not adopted by employees, the purpose of this study is to understand the underlying factors that push employees to make use of these new technologies in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach This study builds on previously developed technology acceptance models to provide a new theoretical model. The model is then tested using data collected from a survey of 203 employees and analyzed through structural equation modeling. Findings Findings show that five factors affect employees’ intention to use AI either directly or as mediators. Organizational culture and habit exert a positive impact on employees’ intention to use AI, whereas job insecurity has a negative impact. Perceived self-image and perceived usefulness fully mediate the relation between job insecurity and intention to use. Moreover, perceived self-image and perceived usefulness partially mediate the relationship between habit and intention to use. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to determine the factors that influence employees’ intention to use AI in general and more particularly chatbots within the workplace.

The development of social networking sites has led to the appearance of social commerce using Web 2.0 to support social exchange activities. While this topic has received attention in the literature, research still lacks theoretical foundation tackling the relationships between hedonic, utilitarian motivations and social commerce purchase intentions. This study addresses this shortcoming, as it investigates these relations. A theoretical model was proposed and tested using a survey. Findings indicate that the higher the hedonic value derived from a social network, the more trustworthy this channel becomes and the higher the purchase intention. Furthermore, economic benefit exerts a positive and significant influence on trust and intent to purchase using the social commerce channel. The results offer several theoretical and practical implications. They highlight the significance of the utilitarian and hedonic shopping motivations on social commerce adoption and ascertain the important mediating role of trust as well as the need to enhance economic benefits and enjoyment for customers.

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