A new study led by Tulane University highlights that generative AI tools like ChatGPT can significantly enhance creativity but only when used with critical thinking and metacognitive strategies. This research has major implications for workplace innovation and education.
A landmark study led by Tulane University researchers demonstrates that generative AI tools — such as ChatGPT — can significantly amplify employees’ creativity, contingent upon their ability to critically engage with their own work.
The research, set for publication in the Journal of Applied Psychology, is among the first field experiments to explore how large language models (LLMs) influence creativity within real-world work environments.
In collaboration with a technology consulting firm, the researchers monitored 250 employees who were randomly assigned to either use ChatGPT or not during a typical workweek. Both supervisors and external reviewers evaluated the creativity of the employees’ outputs.
The results were telling: Employees using AI tools like ChatGPT produced more novel and practical ideas compared to those without access. However, the benefits were most pronounced among those who actively engaged with the AI, rather than using it passively.
“Generative AI use doesn’t automatically make people more creative. It boosts creativity only for employees who use ‘metacognitive strategies’ — those who actively analyze their tasks, monitor their thought processes and adjust their approaches,” lead author Shuhua Sun, who holds the Peter W. and Paul A. Callais Professorship in Entrepreneurship at Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business, said in a news release.
The findings underscore a critical point for organizations investing in AI to foster innovation: Simply deploying tools like ChatGPT is insufficient. Companies must also cultivate employees’ metacognitive skills — abilities to assess problems, adjust strategies and strategically utilize new resources.
“Even the most advanced generative AI systems won’t enhance creativity if employees are passive consumers of their output and lack the metacognitive strategies needed to engage with them effectively. To unlock AI’s potential for boosting workplace creativity, organizations must go beyond simply deploying new tools — they also need to invest in developing employees’ metacognitive skills and promote thoughtful, strategic use of AI to acquire the cognitive job resources that support creative thinking,” Sun added.
Encouragingly, these critical thinking skills can be taught. The researchers highlight short training programs aimed at helping employees be more intentional in how they plan, monitor and adapt their work, thereby enhancing their efficacy in using AI tools.
These findings have broad implications, extending beyond just the realm of workplaces.
Sun and his co-authors advocate for educators and policymakers to prioritize metacognitive skill development as a core component of preparing students and workers for the AI-driven future. Historically, education systems have focused primarily on cognitive skills, often sidelining metacognitive abilities — an oversight that Sun believes must change to keep pace with technological advancements.
“If we want people to thrive alongside AI, we need to start treating metacognitive skill development as a foundational part of education and professional training in the AI era,” added Sun.
Co-authors of the study include researchers at Renmin University of China, Nanyang Technological University, Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Source: Tulane University