How does artificial intelligence (AI) affect value creation and practices within markets, ecosystems,
and communities?
Focus
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), organisational researchers need to better understand how AI influences both value creation in industries and the nature of work itself. In this early stage research project, we examine how the use of artificial intelligence affects practices, playing styles, and competitive advantage in the global chess world. Chess is an exceptionally good setting for gaining insights because of its longstanding relation with AI, and with chess engines exceeding world champion skill levels over two decades ago. Since then, chess players have begun to embrace AI – embodied in powerful specialized computer engines and databases. We will examine how and to what extend different groups have been able to use this as a resource to gain competitive advantage. In addition, we will examine how chess practices, including preparation and playing style but also the social patterns within the chess community, have begun to change. Theoretically this work will contribute to organisational theory research on community transformation, as well to strategy research on ecosystem transformation.
Approach
PROJECT STATS
Project period: 2019 – ongoing
Key people: Jeroen Struben, Mohammadehsan Eslahi
Contexts: Global chess community
Organizations: Koninklijke Nederlandse Schaakbond
Supported by: Artificial Intelligence in Management (AIM) Institute, emlyon business school
To better understand the multiple past and ongoing patterns and their underlying mechanisms, this research makes use of the measurability of and data availability for key constructs in chess activities – level of performance, degree of participation, and quality and style of play, each at the macro (cross-country-) and
micro- (individual-) level. We will examine qualitatively and quantitatively the evolving performances and practices of chess. We will also develop a computational model to examine the mechanisms underlying transformations within the community as affected by AI.