Journal of Management Information Systems
Generative AI and its Transformative Value for Digital Platforms
Generative AI, which refers to artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that generate original outputs based on prompt inputs, has the potential to fundamentally transform the way people create and consume content online. This special issue of the Journal of Management Information Systems invites scholars to explore the strategic and managerial implications of Generative AI for digital platforms, including its impact on complementors, users, and platform providers.
Guest Editors:
- Michael Wessel, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
- Martin Adam, Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany
- Alexander Benlian, Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany
- Ann Majchrzak, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, USA
- Ferdinand Thies, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
Submission deadlines:
- Optional extended abstract: September 15, 2023
- Full paper: January 15, 2024
Executive Summary: Generative AI's Impact on Digital Platforms
The rapid emergence of Generative AI is poised to fundamentally reshape digital platforms, creating unprecedented opportunities for personalization and efficiency. However, it also presents significant challenges, including potential job displacement, ethical concerns regarding data privacy and bias, and the complex interplay between platform stakeholders. Understanding this transformative value and managing its implications is crucial for sustainable growth and innovation.
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Complementors
Users
Platform Providers
Societal & Economic Effects
Transformative Value for Complementors
Generative AI is fundamentally changing how complementors deliver products and services on digital platforms. It raises questions about their role, strategies, and competitive dynamics. The technology can lower barriers to entry, enabling even novice complementors to engage in tasks like app development, potentially intensifying competition. Key questions arise: How will complementors differentiate themselves when AI creates most content? What is the role of humans as value creators? Which complementors will be most affected?
Transformative Value for Users
Generative AI empowers platform users with powerful creative tools, promising significant productivity gains in content creation (text, images, music). This can drastically influence how users organize and improve their platform activities, making high-quality content creation easier and blurring the lines between consumers and creators. Important considerations include how users react to AI-created content, whether its perceived quality is altered by disclosure [15], and the consequences for competition and differentiation in platform markets.
Transformative Value for Platform Providers
As Generative AI alters user and complementor behavior, platform providers must evaluate and consider the resulting dynamics and complexities. This includes business and ethical limitations such as privacy, copyright, unethical applications, and fraud detection [e.g., 1, 3]. Generative AI can also improve governance and orchestration of digital platforms [e.g., 5]. Little is known about how platform providers can manage and control Generative AI to foster flourishing ecosystems, align stakeholders, and build value networks with upstream and downstream partners.
Societal & Economic Effects
Generative AI presents major opportunities for innovation and new product development but also raises significant societal and economic concerns. Potential issues include job displacement as AI automates tasks, and exacerbating existing inequalities through a new digital divide favoring those with access to the technology. Ethical implications such as data privacy, bias, and accountability are paramount. Research must consider humanistic outcomes (e.g., emotional and mental well-being) in addition to efficiency and productivity, to maximize benefits and minimize harms [17].
Case Study: Crowdsourcing Platform Dynamics
Research demonstrates that the introduction of a Generative AI system on a crowdsourcing platform can significantly impact complementor behavior [9]. Facing direct competition from the new AI system, complementors may be motivated to either leave the platform entirely or shift their efforts towards more complex and specialized contests to avoid direct competition. This highlights the disruptive potential of Generative AI for existing platform ecosystems and the strategic challenges it poses for complementors seeking to maintain their value proposition.
Key Milestones for Submission
Optional extended abstract: September 15, 2023
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Full paper submission opens: September 15, 2023
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Full paper submission deadline: January 15, 2024
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First round of reviews completed: April 15, 2024
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Paper revisions due: August 15, 2024
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Second round of reviews completed: October 15, 2024
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Second paper revisions due: December 15, 2024
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Final decision: Early 2025
Possible Research Areas
The special issue encourages innovative investigation across various dimensions, including:
- Accessibility: How Generative AI enhances accessibility and inclusion, reducing barriers to self-expression and enabling more active user participation.
- Empowerment: Generative AI's value for the democratization and empowerment of marginalized groups (e.g., skills, costs, language barriers).
- Complementors Reactions: How complementors react to Generative AI introduction, its impact on competition, and community responses to AI-generated content.
- Automated Content Creation: Use of Generative AI to automate content creation on platforms, reducing costs while maintaining quality (e.g., product descriptions, reviews).
- Human Engagement: Training and updating Generative AI, technology affordances, and practical socio-technical design principles.
- Business Models: How Generative AI alters platform business models that relied on complementor-produced content.
- Generative AI as a Platform: New business models emerging from platform-based AI systems offering boundary resources like APIs.
- Network Effects: How Generative AI helps kickstart and maintain network effects, overcoming the “chicken-and-egg” problem (e.g., social bots).
- Competition: Does Generative AI level the playing field or intensify “winner-take-all” dynamics between rival platforms?
- Platform Governance & Openness: How boundary resources and governance adjust to accommodate AI-generated content.
- Society & Governments: Consequences of Generative AI beyond digital platforms; how society is affected and what governments should do.
- User Experience: Impact of Generative AI on user engagement, satisfaction, and willingness to pay for AI-generated content.
- Humanistic Outcomes: Role of Generative AI for emotional and mental well-being beyond efficiency and productivity (e.g., income inequality).
- Personalized Content: Potential of Generative AI for hyper-personalization, recommendations, and search results; impact on user lock-ins.
- Ethical Considerations: Implications of Generative AI on digital platforms, including fake news, deepfakes, and misinformation.
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Your Enterprise AI Transformation Roadmap
A structured approach ensures successful integration and maximizes the transformative value of Generative AI across your digital platforms.
01. Discovery & Strategy
Assess current platform landscape, identify Generative AI opportunities for users, complementors, and providers, and define strategic goals for transformative impact.
02. Pilot & Prototyping
Develop targeted Generative AI prototypes for specific use cases (e.g., hyper-personalization, content generation), measure initial impact and gather crucial feedback.
03. Integration & Scaling
Implement Generative AI solutions across relevant digital platforms, establish robust governance frameworks for ethical use, and scale capabilities effectively.
04. Optimization & Evolution
Continuously monitor performance, refine AI models, and adapt strategies to evolving technology and market dynamics, ensuring long-term value creation.
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