Generative AI, the new colleague? – a sociomateriality perspective on the human-AI relationship

Abstract

With the increasing human-like capabilities of generative AI, management studies have acknowledged to reconsider the traditional roles of AI, moving beyond a tool-based view towards AI as an active participant in human collaboration. Thereby, a shift towards a relational perspective when studying human-AI interaction has been recognized. This study aims to overcome the existing scarcity of empirical research on the human-generative AI relationship. Using a qualitative approach, 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers in the tech field, focusing on their daily practices with generative AI. Applying the theoretical framework of sociomateriality enables an understanding of how managers and generative AI form a relationship while highlighting changing interactions within four stages of the relationship. As the interactions between managers and generative AI become more complex the collaboration within the relationship is observable, ultimately leading to interactions of a partnership. This research contributes to the field of management studies by observing the enactments of human and material practices and by identifying the transitional process from a tool perspective into a collaboration perspective in which AI becomes seen as a colleague at the final stage. Trust and solidarity remain limiting aspects of the relationship emphasizing the need for future research.