The researchers from the KIN Center for Digital Innovation showcased their work at the prestigious International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) 2023 in Hyderabad, emphasizing the role of digital technologies in addressing global challenges. Jana Retkowsky, a Postdoctoral Researcher, Tomislav Karacic, a PhD Candidate, and Tamara Thuis, a PhD Candidate from Erasmus University affiliated with the Tech@Work group, presented ongoing studies on AI at work. Nina-Birte Schirrmacher, an Assistant Professor, discussed the influential role of tokens for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and talked about cyber resilience.
Retkowsky's presentation on the impact of ChatGPT on work practices garnered significant attention. She shared insights from a paper co-authored with Ella Hafermalz and Marleen Huysman, focusing on early adopters’ user experiences with ChatGPT. The study reveals that users perceive ChatGPT as a teammate or colleague, sparking discussions on potential consequences at individual, organizational, and societal levels.
Karacic discussed how professionals in banking, biotechnology, and recruitment explain opaque AI decisions to clients. His research, co-authored with Anne-Sophie Mayerm, Elmira van den Broek, and Marleen Huysman, highlights variations in explanations based on whether professionals relied on their expertise or AI techniques and the depth of their engagement with AI tools.
Thuis presented a field study on AI-related task shifts, explainability, and responsibility attributions, examining how responsibility for AI unfolds in organizations with a focus on the relationship between explainability and responsibility. Her research co-authored with Ting Li and Eric van Heck displays the difference in responsibility attributions among three AI projects.
Schirrmacher's presentation explored how decision-making unfolds in DAOs, exposing that voting power hinges on economic, instead of social capital. This underscores a notable gap between the professed values and the actual governance practices of DAOs. The paper offers insights into alternative voting systems and presents a framework for understanding DAO governance. Additionally, Schirrmacher presented our ongoing research in cyber resilience at the MISQE workshop 'Managing cybersecurity to address increasing digital risk'. In collaboration with Bart van den Hooff, the study explores effective cybersecurity management in the face of growing digital threats.
Throughout the conference, KIN researchers engaged with colleagues and practitioners worldwide, reflecting on lessons learned and fostering innovative thinking on how digital technologies can further support human endeavors, whether in improving global literacy, health, governance, or shaping the future of work.