MIT Sloan Management Review Article on GenAI Tools and Decision-Making: Beware a New Control Trap

Generative AI tools promise to help leaders make better decisions. But they may also cause trouble by nudging leaders toward a control-based style, research shows.

As artificial intelligence technologies develop, managers are striving to reap the benefits. Today’s generative AI tools can aid managers in strategic decision-making and assist with problem-solving in a variety of contexts, ranging from product development to employee conflicts. ChatGPT — a common GenAI tool — is even being used as a debating partner for managerial decision-making processes.

At the same time, interacting with technology as part of a decision-making or problem-solving process is fundamentally different from consulting with humans. AI systems, by design, are focused on efficiency, predictability, and data-driven solutions. This emphasis is where leaders can get into unintended trouble.

Our latest research suggests that when managers interact with GenAI tools to help make decisions, the tools may inadvertently nudge them toward a more rigid and mechanistic approach. Specifically, our study reveals that when managers used ChatGPT to assist with solving a problem related to employee behavior and working conditions, they were more likely to propose control-oriented rather than people-oriented solutions.

About the Author

J. Mauricio Galli Geleilate, Ph.D., is an associate professor of strategy at the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Beth K. Humberd, Ph.D., is an associate professor of management, also at the Manning School of Business.

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