Rethinking presence in XR workspaces: An empirical investigation from an affordance-presence perspective

This study examines how users experience presence in Extended Reality (XR) environments, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of presence. Existing frameworks often treat presence as a singular construct and do not fully account for the complexity of XR environments, particularly when AI entities are involved. We conducted an empirical study with 46 employees from six Swiss organizations who collaborated with AI assistants in a purpose-built virtual workspace. Using qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, we identified three dimensions of presence: spatial, social, and cognitive. These dimensions emerge through users’ interactions with the environment and AI agents and may operate independently or interact in ways that influence the overall experience. Applying an affordance perspective, we identified five key affordances: customizability, embodyability, proximity, interactability, and viewability. These affordances shape how users perceive and engage with spatial, social, and cognitive aspects of presence. The findings contribute to theory by offering a multidimensional understanding of presence and introducing an affordance-presence lens for studying user experiences in XR workspaces. Practical implications are also outlined. Designers can align workspace features with specific presence dimensions, and organizations can strategically deploy XR workspaces to support collaboration, task engagement, and user well-being.