Stories are one way that leaders cement their legacy, inspire action, and define an era. The stories they tell about where a company is going can foreshadow opportunity or foment fear—sometimes unwittingly. Today, leaders are telling employees the story of what AI will mean for them. “No one knows,” some say, leaning into the 2010s-era virtue of transparency. “AI is coming for your job, but it’s coming for mine, too,” say others, in apprehensive solidarity. Still others position AI as a personal superpower, or the dawn of a heroic unknown. Each of these narratives is a choice. Each choice has consequences.

In working with clients, we are often asked which AI stories inspire the most positive outcomes for individuals and companies. Case studies are one way to answer this question. But after two years of relying on anecdotal evidence, we craved a more empirical answer. To that end we studied more than 1,000 U.S. employees across firms and industries to understand how specific AI storylines related to firm outcomes. Read this HBR article to find out more.