Research: Using AI Can Stifle Innovation. But It Doesn't Have To.

The article examines how the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in organizations can inadvertently stifle innovation by making knowledge reuse too easy, which reduces independent exploration and narrows problem-solving approaches. It introduces the concept of “absorptive capacity,” the ability to critically evaluate, adapt, and improve AI-generated outputs rather than simply copying them, as essential for sustaining long-term innovation. The authors propose implementing “strategic friction”—such as requiring evidence of independent effort before using AI outputs—to foster deeper engagement and learning, thereby enhancing collective knowledge and innovation. They also highlight observable behaviors distinguishing effective AI users (“builders”) from passive ones (“free-riders”) and recommend designing AI tools and workflows that encourage active human contribution and critical interaction. This approach aims to balance productivity gains from AI with the preservation of creative problem-solving within organizations. [Extracted from the article]