A new study led by researchers at Tulane University reveals a crucial insight about the growing role of generative AI in the workplace: tools like ChatGPT can significantly enhance employee creativity, but only when workers engage in critical thinking and actively manage their own thought processes.
Published soon in the Journal of Applied Psychology, the study is one of the first real-world field experiments to examine the impact of large language models (LLMs) on workplace creativity. Researchers partnered with a technology consulting firm and randomly assigned 250 employees to either use ChatGPT or not during a regular workweek. Their creative output was later evaluated by supervisors and external reviewers.
The results were clear: employees who used generative AI performed better, producing more novel and useful ideas than those who didn’t use it. However, this boost in performance wasn’t universal.
Those who benefited the most weren’t simply using ChatGPT as a passive assistant. Instead, they actively thought about their work approach, the problems they were trying to solve, and how to best apply AI tools to reach their goals. In other words, they practiced metacognitive strategies — they planned, monitored, and adapted their thinking throughout the process.
“Generative AI doesn’t automatically increase creativity,” said lead author Shuhua Sun, who holds the Peter W. and Paul A. Callais Chair in Entrepreneurship at Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. “It only boosts creativity for employees who use metacognitive strategies — those who actively analyze their tasks, monitor their thinking, and adjust their approaches.”
These findings carry powerful implications for companies investing in AI to drive innovation. Merely implementing AI tools like ChatGPT isn't enough. To achieve real results, businesses must also help their employees develop better thinking habits, including how to assess problems, shift strategies, and leverage new technologies effectively.
Even the most advanced generative AI systems won’t foster creativity if employees interact with them passively. Without the metacognitive skills required to engage meaningfully with AI, the tools fall short of their transformative potential.
To truly unlock AI’s power, organizations must go beyond simple tech adoption. They must invest in training programs that teach employees to think intentionally, use reflective strategies, and adapt their workflows to harness AI’s creative capabilities. According to Sun, this includes short workshops and sessions focused on planning, self-monitoring, and flexible thinking.
But the implications go far beyond the workplace. The researchers urge educators and policymakers to rethink traditional education models. While cognitive skills like reading and math have long been emphasized, metacognitive development — skills that allow individuals to think about their thinking — are still neglected in most school systems.
“If we want people to thrive alongside AI, we must treat metacognitive skill development as a core part of education and professional training,” said Sun.
The study was a collaboration between researchers from Tulane University, Renmin University of China, Nanyang Technological University, Rice University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Their joint conclusion: in the age of AI, success will belong not just to those who use technology, but to those who know how to think critically and adaptively while using it.
#ArtificialIntelligence #Creativity #AIInTheWorkplace #ChatGPT #Innovation #FutureOfWork #ThinkSmart #TechNews #Metacognition #GenerativeAI