Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are making a significant impact on the workplace, with tools like ChatGPT leading the way in driving employee innovation. The potential of these tools to enhance creativity among employees is a topic of interest, but there is limited empirical evidence to support this claim. Recent research conducted by Sun et al. (2025) aims to shed light on this issue.
In a field experiment involving over 200 employees at a technology company in China, researchers randomly assigned some employees ChatGPT accounts for a week while others did not receive access to the tool. The results of the study revealed that employees who utilized ChatGPT were perceived as more creative by both their supervisors and external evaluators compared to those who did not use the tool. The key reason behind this finding was that ChatGPT enabled employees to streamline information-heavy tasks, thereby freeing up cognitive resources for creative thinking.
Moreover, the study found that employees who exhibited strong metacognitive skills, such as effective planning, monitoring progress, and adapting strategies as needed, were better able to leverage ChatGPT for enhancing their creativity.
The implications of this research are significant for organizations looking to promote creativity among their workforce. The findings suggest that integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into daily work routines can have a positive impact on creative output. Furthermore, organizations may consider providing training in metacognitive strategies to employees to maximize the benefits of using AI tools effectively. This training could focus on developing skills related to problem-solving, evaluating the effectiveness of approaches, and making necessary adjustments to enhance creativity in the workplace.
In conclusion, the study by Sun et al. underscores the potential of generative AI tools to boost creativity in the workplace. By encouraging the use of such tools and providing training in metacognitive strategies, organizations can create an environment that fosters innovation and productivity among employees.
Reference:
Sun, S., Li, Z. A., Foo, M.-D., Zhou, J., and Lu, J. G. (2025). How and for whom the use of generative AI affects creativity: a field experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology. Preliminary online publication. Image credit: Unsplash.