How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity

Harvard Business Review, Vol. 101, No. 4, 2023

Eapen, T. T., Finkenstadt, D. J., Folk, J., & Venkataswamy, L. (July/August 2023). How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity: Use it to promote divergent thinking. Harvard Business Review, 101(4), 56-64. https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-generative-ai-can-augment-human-creativity

3 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2024

See all articles by Tojin Eapen

Tojin Eapen

Center for Creative Foresight; The Conference Board

Daniel J. Finkenstadt

Wolf Stake Consulting LLC

Josh Folk

Ideascale

Lokesh Venkataswamy

Innomantra Consulting Private Limited

Date Written: 2023

Abstract

The advent of generative AI has sparked apprehension regarding its capacity to replace human workers in many jobs. However, the most significant opportunity for this technology lies in its potential to assist businesses and governments in addressing the challenges associated with democratizing innovation by augmenting human creativity. These challenges include the influx of ideas, the inability of domain experts to embrace novel concepts, the difficulty in refining vague ideas into actionable plans, and the struggle to integrate diverse customer requirements into viable solutions. Generative AI can transform this landscape by fostering divergent thinking, challenging existing biases, aiding in the evaluation of ideas, enhancing the refinement of concepts, and promoting collaborative innovation among employees and customers. Its effectiveness lies not in replacing human ingenuity but in being a powerful collaborator, augmenting collective human creativity.

Keywords: generative ai, creativity, innovation

Suggested Citation

Eapen, Tojin and Finkenstadt, Daniel J. and Folk, Josh and Venkataswamy, Lokesh, How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity ( 2023). Harvard Business Review, Vol. 101, No. 4, 2023, Eapen, T. T., Finkenstadt, D. J., Folk, J., & Venkataswamy, L. (July/August 2023). How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity: Use it to promote divergent thinking. Harvard Business Review, 101(4), 56-64. https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-generative-ai-can-augment-human-creativity, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4759930 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4759930

Tojin Eapen (Contact Author)

Center for Creative Foresight ( email )

The Conference Board ( email )

845 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
United States

Daniel J. Finkenstadt

Wolf Stake Consulting LLC

Josh Folk

Ideascale

United States

Lokesh Venkataswamy

Innomantra Consulting Private Limited ( email )

Level 9, Raheja Towers
M.G. Road
Bangalore, 560 001
India

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