How can collaboration between humans and AI in knowledge work be organized in a productive, fair, and responsible way? An international research network coordinated by two economists will address this question in the future: Dr. Marah Blaurock from the Chair of Business Administration and Service Management at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and Dr. Ellen Weber, a research associate at the Chair of Business Management at the University of Hohenheim. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the network “AI in Knowledge Work: an Interdisciplinary Network of Early Career Researchers on Uncovering the Implications of AI in Knowledge Work” with approximately 54,000 euros through its “Scientific Networks” funding program.
The focus is on what is known as knowledge work — that is, activities in which people analyze, plan, make decisions, communicate, or develop content. It is precisely in these areas that employees are increasingly relying on AI systems. This opens up new possibilities but also raises fundamental questions: How does AI change professional roles, responsibilities, and collaboration? When does it support creativity and efficiency — and when does it lead to new dependencies, uncertainties, or poor decisions? And what ethical and legal guidelines are needed for its use?
DFG funds research network on AI in knowledge work
![[Translate to English:] KI in der Wissensarbeit](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/2/csm_AdobeStock_502892683_a7a5bdf241.webp)
This is precisely where the new network comes in: 15 early-career researchers from Germany, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are bringing together perspectives from computer science, information systems, operations management, psychology, management, organizational research, economics, law, and ethics. The goal is to capture the full diversity of the topic. The foundation is a socio-technical perspective. It views AI not in isolation as a technology, but in interaction with people, teams, organizations, and societal conditions. Accordingly, the network combines three perspectives: the technical design and implementation of AI systems, the social dynamics of collaboration within organizations, and the ethical, legal, and economic implications.
“When AI becomes a kind of partner in knowledge work, it changes not only individual tools but also work processes, decision-making structures, and responsibilities”, says Dr. Marah Blaurock. “To gain a sound understanding of this development, we must examine technical, organizational, and societal issues together.” From the researchers’ perspective, the implications of this for organizations are a central focus of the network. “The use of AI changes not only individual tasks but also the demands placed on leadership, collaboration, and skills development within organizations,” says Dr. Ellen Weber. “If we want to understand how humans and AI can engage in good collaboration together in knowledge work, we must also consider how work structures and organizational frameworks are transformed as a result.”
Over a period of two and a half years, the network plans to hold several workshops in Ingolstadt and Stuttgart, as well as digital working meetings, joint scientific publications, and lectures and discussion forums with guests from academia, practice, and politics. The researchers aim to systematically integrate their theoretical and methodological approaches, develop shared terminology and research questions, and use these to formulate new research proposals for further empirical projects.
The network is thus intended not only to strengthen interdisciplinary research on human-AI collaboration but also to provide guidance for organizations and policymakers. Precisely because AI is already finding its way into many professional fields today, there is a growing need for in-depth knowledge on how to shape this transformation responsibly.
Text: Christian Klenk, translation: Sylvia Schmager
