Beyond Survival: Leveraging Human–AI Interaction for Transformative Resilience and Sustainability in the Malaysian Public Sector

Usman Abdullahi; Ahmad Martadha Mohamed; Vally Senasi; Nur Fariha Mohd Noor; Mohamed Hassan Mudey; Adamu Garba

doi:10.32890/jgd2026.22.2.4

Authors

Usman Abdullahi Department of Political Science, Nigeria Police Academy, School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Ahmad Martadha Mohamed School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Vally Senasi School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Nur Fariha Mohd Noor School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Mohamed Hassan Mudey School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Adamu Garba Department of Public Administration, Bayero University, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/jgd2026.22.2.4

Keywords:

Human–AI interaction, transformative resilience, organizational agility, digital trust, public sector, Malaysia

Abstract

Public sector organizations increasingly operate in environments characterized by uncertainty, technological disruption, and complex societal challenges that demand greater adaptability, innovation, and resilience. In response, governments worldwide are accelerating digital transformation initiatives, particularly through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance governance effectiveness, operational efficiency, and public service delivery. However, existing evidence suggests that technological investments alone do not guarantee sustainable organizational transformation, as many AI-enabled initiatives fail to generate expected outcomes due to socio-technical misalignment, organizational resistance, and governance challenges. Consequently, scholarly attention has shifted toward understanding how Human–AI Interaction (HAII) contributes to organizational adaptability and long-term resilience. Drawing upon Socio-Technical Systems (STS) Theory, this conceptual paper examines the relationship between Human–AI Interaction and Transformative Resilience within the Malaysian public sector. The study proposes that effective collaboration between humans and AI systems strengthens organizational adaptability by integrating technological capabilities with human judgment, learning, and decision-making processes. The paper further conceptualizes Organizational Agility as a mediating mechanism through which Human–AI Interaction contributes to Transformative Resilience, while Digital Trust is proposed as a moderating condition influencing the effectiveness of Human–AI collaboration. The study develops a moderated-mediation conceptual framework linking Human–AI Interaction, Organizational Agility, Digital Trust, and Transformative Resilience within public sector organizations. The paper contributes to Human–AI Interaction, resilience, and digital governance literature by extending existing research beyond technology adoption toward higher-order organizational outcomes associated with adaptive transformation and sustainable governance. Practically, the study provides insights for policymakers and public sector leaders seeking to design human-centered AI governance systems capable of strengthening organizational resilience, institutional sustainability, and future-ready public sector transformation in emerging digital economies such as Malaysia.

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