New research pushes language models beyond predictable outputs. Listen to this article: Lately, we’ve all developed a sixth sense for the “AI writing voice” with its polished, repetitive cadence and the obligatory “it’s not just X—it’s Y.” This signals a deeper challenge for using AI to brainstorm, design, research, write, and make decisions. We want […]
When AI summarizes the web instead of sending you to it, the economics of online information quietly unravel. Listen to this article: AI search results like Google’s AI Overview are easy to like. Instead of dodging ads, closing pop-ups, scanning a half-dozen pages, and stitching together an answer yourself, you can often get a speedy […]
New research shows why optimizing content for attention can quietly push it off strategy. Listen to this article: When businesses ask AI to write “on brand,” they’re activating far more than a style guide. Brand voice involves a nuanced set of choices about tone, target audience, and what the organization ultimately wants to stand for. […]
New research proposes a framework to give workers a stake in the AI systems built on their labor. Listen to this article: Data portability has often been presented as a way to reduce the control digital platforms exert through exclusive access to user data. In principle: if Meta, Alphabet, Spotify, or another platform holds your […]
AI tools are everywhere. Profits may not be. Listen to this article: Generative AI looks like a startup’s dream. It’s widely available, relatively cheap to access, and capable of automating tasks that once required long hours and large teams. In theory, that should give newer, smaller firms an edge for challenging incumbents. But as reported […]
Data-driven insights on the shift from cool tool to global utility Listen to this article: If you look at the headlines about tools like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, or hear about programmers using LLMs to reach unprecedented levels of efficiency, you might think that everyone is starting to use AI to write computer code, […]
New Harvard research offers a clear framework for understanding how chatbots create deep emotional bonds. Listen to this article: AI companions have quickly moved from novelty apps to objects of public anxiety. Critics worry about social substitution, emotional manipulation, and addiction, while advocates point to the possibility of reducing loneliness and improving mental health. But […]
What China’s “diffusion-forward” strategy reveals about technology, production, and who wins in the AI economy Listen to this article: The New York Times recently reported that in Washington, the AI question focuses on whether the government should review powerful models before they are released. But on the other side of the globe, China is asking […]
Research shows that giving AI to everyone doesn’t help everyone Listen to this article: Lately, you may have noticed some colleagues seem to use AI for everything. They ask it to sharpen emails, produce meeting notes, brainstorm strategy, and pressure-test campaigns. Watching them, it’s tempting to think the advantage lies in sheer volume: maybe the […]
This series introduces Harvard Business School AI Institute Associates Program projects which aim to answer important questions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in business and society. This article shares insights from Michael Lingzhi Li, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School who is pursuing research on the topics of […]