KIN speaking out

How do the innovations that should help solve our biggest societal challenges actually come about?
New technology alone is not enough. In an interview with Technisch Weekblad, Philipp Tuertscher explains why real breakthroughs ultimately remain human work — and why collaboration, user insight, and even productive disagreement are at the heart of successful innovation. From design thinking in horticulture to the collaborative structures at CERN and the lessons from the ecosystem behind Philips Hue: what makes innovation succeed where technology alone falls short?

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Are people relying on chatbots to solve all their life problems entering a slippery slope? Ella Hafermalz (AI@Work research group) discuss this question with a journalist from The Guardian. Ella discusses the growing reliance on ChatGPT and its implications for our workplaces and personal lives. She suggests that it is essential for leaders to encourage honest and open conversations about AI use in the workplace. If this doesn’t happen, workplace norms and practices won’t keep up.

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Many organizations fail to recognize the growing complexity within their information systems and face persistent challenges in managing it effectively. Even with system integrations or architecture program initiatives, outcomes frequently fall short of expectations. This is highlighted in the doctoral thesis of Erik Jochemsen, Head of Development Services at ABN AMRO. His research struck a chord: the Dutch ICT news platforms, Computable.nl, highlighted the work in the article Spaghetti-IT Leads to Shifting Complexity, sparking a lively debate among IT specialists, managers, and decision-makers.

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In an interview with Metronieuws, researchers Maria Carmen Punzi and Tamara Thuis (AI@Work research group) discussed both the promises and the risks of these apps—including ethical concerns, the handling of sensitive personal data and the implications of using AI-powered apps for symptom tracking, contraception and conception.

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What are bodily data, how are they different from data more broadly, and what should organizations be doing with them? Lorna Downie (AI@Work research group) gives a fascinating insight into bodies, data, and work in the world of elite sport, and outlines the implications of her observations for organizations and data researchers. 

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The Netherlands faces an impending healthcare crisis, with projections suggesting that a quarter of its workforce will be in healthcare by 2040. Fleur Deken discusses how innovation in healthcare can mitigate these challenges, along with the hurdles encountered during implementation in the Het Financieele Daglblad.

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Is AI a helpful genie — or one that grants wishes a little too easily… and always at a price? 

Ella Hafermalz discusses (AI@Work research group) joined the BBC AI Decoded podcast to discuss her research with Jana Retkowsky and Marleen Huysman on how colleagues turn to ChatGPT instead of one another. Their research shows how generative AI can act as a ‘spirited technology’, nudging us to overestimate what we can do alone, while overlooking the expertise around us. The risk? That the “magic” makes collaboration will colleagues feel optional rather than essential. So the real question isn’t whether AI makes humans useless… but whether our wish for speed and autonomy comes at the cost of learning from one another

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Ella Hafermalz (AI@Work research group) joined a webinar hosted by the Publications Office of the European Union, together with Thomas Lampert (University of Strasbourg), to discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping research practices, scientific integrity, and public trust.

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What does hybrid work mean in an academic setting? Ella Hafermalz (AI@Work research group) joined Jan Recker and Nick Berente on their podcast to talk about what hybrid work looks like at universities. Researchers need flexibility and freedom, but they also play a key role in building community—being present for teaching, interacting with students, collaborating with colleagues, and sometimes even bringing their families into campus life.

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Since the arrival of ChatGPT, there has been a lot of discussion about Generative AI and how it will change the way we work. In the episode of the Hete Hangijzers podcast, Marleen Huysman (AI@Work research group) and Kim Schildkamp dive into their experiences with generative AI in education and from their research.
They share inspiring examples of a good use of Generative AI, while also exploring potential challenges: the erosion of knowledge, reduced social interaction, and job displacement. 

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When work processes and imposed technology don’t align, so-called "misfits" can emerge—sometimes so significant that users start to look for workarounds, either within the technology or outside it.

In the new episode of KNVI podcast Bart van den Hooff takes the audience through his research on the introduction of an Electronic Patient Record in two Dutch hospitals in a conversation with Marijn Plomp and Sandra de Waart.

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A new agreement, the EU AI Act, aims to steer the rise of artificial intelligence in Europe in the right direction. Frans Feldberg discusses this in the Radio 1 podcast Vroeg!. “Europe wants to position itself on responsible AI,” he says. “Artificial intelligence has become so commonplace that it doesn't even stand out anymore. Machine learning is already everywhere: in your phone, on Google, the bottle return machine in the supermarket.”

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How do we remain relevant in a world where not only big tech but also startups develop data-driven products and services that undermine the existence of many organizations? Frans Feldberg discussed these challenges in De Dataloog, the Dutch podcast focusing on big data, data science, machine learning, and data-driven transformation. In the conversation, Frans delved into the influence of developments such as digital innovation, (big) data, and (generative) artificial intelligence. He addressed key questions, including why data and AI should be top management priorities for every organization, how to respond to challenges involving data and AI, and what lies ahead.

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Generative AI tools are changing creative work profoundly. That is one of the main conclusions from research by organisational scientists Ella Hafermalz, Marleen Huysman and Jana Retkowsky. In a new publication, they show how AI accelerates and enriches the creative process, while at the same time putting it under pressure.

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FemTech has become an indispensable part of the daily lives of millions of women. But how safe, accurate, and fair are these AI-driven tools? And who bears responsibility when things go wrong? Researchers Tamara Thuis and Maria Carmen Punzi, supported by SIDN Fonds, explore the ethical implications of FemTech and how algorithms in fertility apps can be designed and used responsibly.

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Track your steps, sleep better, reduce stress - wearables and health apps promise it all. Companies offer these tools, hoping for healthier, more productive teams. But can a Fitbit fix burnout? Without the right support from managers to address work-related issues, employees often struggle to make the most of these tools.

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Platform ecosystems are becoming increasingly important in today’s business landscape. How can platform firms or tool developers impact market power? How could regulations prevent potential harm to consumers? Joey van Angeren, Milan Miric, and Hakan Özalp discuss this in their paper, published in the Academy of Management Perspectives journal.

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How do organizations collaborate on large-scale projects, when their goals differ? Jochem Hummel, Hans Berends, and Philipp Tuertscher explore this in their blog post.

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Micro-task crowdsourcing platforms (MTCS) such as Amazon Mechanical Turk and Clickworker provide a crucial alternative for individuals facing exclusion from traditional employment due to personal challenges like chronic mental health or physical issues. According to a recent study by the organizational scholar Anne-Sophie Mayer, these platforms offer marginalized workers more than just income.

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The exhibition Perspectives on Hybrid explores a nuanced ‘lived experience’ perspective on hybrid working by presenting glimpses into where and how work happens when we work hybrid.  

The exhibition comprises 14 photos taken by employees and the research team, featuring offices, homes, and other spaces connected through different devices. "Perspectives on Hybrid" encompasses a two-year qualitative study conducted by researchers from the KIN and funded by the VU through the Hybrid Working Initiative. The project gathered interviews and observations with employees from different faculties, including academic and support staff. Additionally, the researchers adopted an innovative strategy for the data collection, engaging participants in a dynamic conversation exploring different elements included in the pictures they took.

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How can firms transform carbon-intensive industry structures to tackle climate change? What hinders them from scaling low-carbon innovation ecosystems? A recently published research article provides new insights into these questions.

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As we speak, the hype for new AI trends is insatiable and the use of AI-based applications is expanding to almost every industry and group of society. Generative AI has seen significant advancements over the course of 2022, for example in the field of text-to-image generation. Tools such as Dalle-2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney have garnered significant attention for their ability to transform human language into pictures, causing an outcry in the artistic world since these tools offer a unique way to create art “on command” without really needing a human artist anymore.

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