AI is to adults what “six seven” is to middle-schoolers – both terms have infiltrated their respective lexicons. Unlike the latter, though, which will eventually be swapped for the next viral slang word, AI isn’t going anywhere. And neither is IT, for that matter. As such, inquisitive scholar Jalal Sarabadani, assistant professor in the School of Information Systems and Technology, is taking a closer look at the sinister aspect of information technology. 

On November 19, as part of San José State University’s Fall 2025 University Scholar Series, Sarabadani presented “Understanding and Managing the Dark Side of IT”, admitting that most of his research examines “the challenges associated with the use of technology in different contexts.” One of the topics Sarabadani discussed was technostress and its presence in the workplace. 

“It’s the combination of technology and stress, and how people get stressed out due to their interaction with technology,” Sarabadani explained. In particular, his dissertation focuses on after-hours work connectivity and how employee engagement with technology after working hours can be a stressful experience that can influence their sense of job satisfaction.

Moreover, the concept of techno uncertainty was addressed, “where the presence of a new technology actually creates uncertainty and also insecurity,” Sarabadani shared. He mentioned that it creates a lot of stress for individuals to learn about new technology and apply it in their jobs. “But also at the same time, people will start to freak out that ‘This new technology is going to replace my job.’” 

Sarabadani’s presentation included a host of highly relevant concepts that are continuing to evolve in the information technology space. Currently, Sarabadani is working on new topics, such as the problematic use of generative AI in higher education, as well as cyber crime.  

To learn more, and for maximum impact, this episode of the University Scholar Series can be viewed through Vimeo or YouTube.