Evaluating the Impact of Productivity Tools on Team Culture

It's well understood that AI has the ability to impact individual productivity. But most critical work is done in teams. What's AI role within a team? A new HBS paper studies how AI acting as a Teammate impacts knowledge work. The study tracked hundreds of professionals (business & technical) at P&G and analyzed the impact of using AI on individuals and teams measured by time savings and output. (Link to paper in comments) * Big Takeaway: AI often functions as more of a teammate than a tool, democratizing expertise, improving quality of output, and even improving emotional experiences. * Big Productivity Gains:  Individuals and Teams using GPT-4 completed tasks 12-16% faster and produced work 0.37-0.39 standard deviations higher in quality.   * Blurring Expertise Boundaries: AI helped both R&D and Business specialists produce balanced technical and commercial solutions, erasing traditional knowledge silos.    * AI as a Teammate Equivalent: Individuals using AI performed on par with two-person teams without AI, demonstrating the AI as a teammate concept is real. * AI Teammates + Human Teammates Work Best: Teams using AI were significantly more likely to produce top-tier solutions, suggesting that there is extra value in having human teams working on a problem + AI. * Enhanced Emotional Experience: Participants using AI reported significantly more positive emotions (excitement, energy) and fewer negative emotions (anxiety, frustration). The author (Ethan Mollick) provides prescient guidance to companies:  “To successfully use AI, organizations will need to change their analogies. Our findings suggest AI sometimes functions more like a teammate than a tool. While not human, it replicates core benefits of teamwork—improved performance, expertise sharing, and positive emotional experiences.” AI founders would do well to remember AI should be more than a tool and seek to be a teammate.

Top-performing AI users are twice as likely to quit. Here's why - and how to stop it: While AI tools are dramatically increasing productivity, They're also dramatically increasing burnout. According to new findings from The Upwork Research Institute,   88% of top AI performers report burnout, And they are 2x as likely to leave their jobs. The reality is that AI is quietly eroding ↳Human connection ↳Trust ↳Purpose Which are all critical to long-term success. But it doesn't have to be that way. Proactive leaders can take advantage of AI's massive contributions, While still supporting motivated, engaged, and thriving teams. Here's how to start: 1. Make it okay to log off ↳AI tools are always available, which makes people feel like they should be too ↳Ex: Say, "You don't need to respond outside work hours," and back it up 2. Make time for real connection ↳People now say they trust AI more than coworkers, putting connection at risk ↳Ex: Start team meetings with shoutouts and appreciation, not just metrics 3. Notice the good stuff out loud ↳AI delivers quick results, but people need to feel appreciated to stay engaged ↳Ex: Ask, "What's something you're proud of this week?" in 1:1s 4. Give people time to think ↳AI increases speed, but without space to think, quality suffers ↳Ex: Block two hours daily for deep work across the team 5. Remind people why their work matters ↳AI can make work feel transactional, draining the meaning that fuels motivation ↳Ex: Share a customer story to remind people what they're part of 6. Make it safe to speak up ↳AI moves fast, but without safety, speed leads to silence, not innovation ↳Ex: Encourage questions even when things are moving quickly 7. Share the full picture ↳AI tools give fast answers, but people need context to feel connected ↳Ex: Share how and why key decisions were made 8. Celebrate what only humans can do ↳AI optimizes for output - humans thrive when their unique gifts are seen ↳Ex: Recognize creativity, empathy, or leadership, not just speed or output 9. Show it's okay to struggle ↳AI can make it seem like everyone's cruising, making people hide their own challenges ↳Ex: Share your confusion or frustrations so others feel safe doing the same 10. Slow down when it matters ↳AI can answer fast, but it takes human judgment to ask the right questions ↳Ex: Praise someone who pauses to think critically instead of rushing 11. Find moments to build trust ↳Trust is built through action, but AI has made human follow-through less visible ↳Ex: Send the message, make the call, follow up - show them they can count on you AI's short-term gains are real and impressive. But only the leaders who invest in people will make those gains last. Are you seeing burnout rise as AI use increases? --- ♻️ Repost to help more teams thrive with AI. And for even more tips on how to strengthen workplaces in the AI era, Check out Upwork’s complete report: http://spr.ly/GeorgeStern #UpworkPartner #FutureOfWork #AI

New research from Harvard Business School explores a big question: What if AI isn’t just a tool but a teammate? In a large-scale field experiment with Procter & Gamble, researchers tested how GPT-4 affected performance when used by individuals versus teams of experienced professionals working on real product development challenges. Some key findings: - AI-enabled individuals performed as well as teams without AI - Teams using AI produced the best and most exceptional results overall — not only did they outperform others, but they were significantly more likely to generate top 10% solutions - AI helped bridge expertise gaps and broke down professional silos - Participants using AI had better emotional experiences — more excitement, less frustration The takeaway? AI isn't just about individual productivity — it’s reshaping how we collaborate, think, and solve complex problems. It’s acting more like a cybernetic teammate, not just a more efficient tool. The working paper — “The Cybernetic Teammate: A Field Experiment on Generative AI Reshaping Teamwork and Expertise” — is worth a read. As someone interested in the future of work, this raises important questions: 1. How do we design teams when AI levels the playing field? 2. What happens to traditional boundaries between roles? 3. How do we rethink collaboration when AI enhances both performance and emotional engagement? Curious what you all think — especially if you’re leading teams or exploring how to integrate AI meaningfully into your org. #FutureOfWork #LinkedInWorkplace #LinkedInLife #WorkplaceResearch

🧠 Workers using AI performed just as well as full teams while working 16% faster and reporting more excitement, energy, and enthusiasm. This isn’t speculation...it’s what 776 professionals at Procter & Gamble just proved in a study. The latest research reveals something we’re only beginning to grasp: AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a teammate. Here’s what People Analytics leaders need to know: 1️⃣ AI boosts individual performance to team-level outcomes 🔹 Individuals using GenAI improved performance by +0.37 standard deviations, matching the effectiveness of human teams. 🔹 They also worked 16.4% faster, producing longer, more detailed solutions. 📌 Takeaway: One AI-enabled employee can now match the output of a traditional 2-person team. 2️⃣ AI breaks down expertise silos 🔹 Commercial specialists started suggesting technical solutions. 🔹 R&D pros brought forward customer-facing ideas. 🔹 AI leveled the playing field across specialties. 📌 Takeaway: GenAI is becoming the great equalizer in cross-functional collaboration. 3️⃣ AI improves emotional experience at work 🔹 Participants reported more energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. 🔹 They also saw lower frustration and anxiety when AI was in the loop. 📌 Takeaway: AI isn’t just changing how we work—it’s changing how we feel at work. 4️⃣ AI helps surface breakthrough ideas 🔹 AI-enabled teams were 3x more likely to generate top 10% solutions. 🔹 Even less experienced employees delivered ideas on par with veterans. 📌 Takeaway: AI is democratizing creativity and unlocking hidden potential across the org. 💡 Bottom line for People Analytics teams: AI isn’t just enhancing productivity. It’s reshaping how teams form, how they collaborate, and how individuals experience their work. Check the comments for the full research paper and Ethan Mollick’s excellent breakdown. How is your organization measuring the real impact of AI on collaboration, expertise, and experience? #GenAI #AIAdoption #PeopleAnalytics #FutureOfWork #WorkforceTransformation