Individuals Working with an AI "Team Mate" Sometimes Outperform Two-Person Teams

A study by a team of researchers finds that AI “significantly enhances performance” perhaps in part by breaking down functional silos. “Without AI, R&D professionals tended to suggest more technical solutions, while commercial professionals leaned towards commercially-oriented proposals,” the authors say. “Professionals using AI produced balanced solutions, regardless of their professional background.”

source: The Cybernetic Teammate: A Field Experiment on Generative AI Reshaping Teamwork and Expertise

Individuals using AI matched the performance of teams without AI, suggesting, at the very least, that AI usage does not harm output. “Our findings show that AI replicates many of the benefits of human collaboration, acting as a “cybernetic teammate,” the team says.

“Individuals with AI produce solutions at a quality level comparable to two-person teams,” they add. “The adoption of AI also broadens the user’s reach in areas outside their core expertise.”

“Overall, our findings indicate that adopting AI in knowledge work involves more than simply adding another tool. By enhancing performance, bridging functional expertise, and reshaping collaboration patterns, GenAI prompts a rethinking of how organizations structure teams and individual roles.”