Exploring the potential of AI to support team effectiveness in interdisciplinary product development

Abstract

While robots and automation in
general have been replacing humans in repetitive and routine labour for many
years, the role of AI is considered to develop from mere tools to integral
teammates. However, recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining
the role of AI from being mere tools to becoming integral teammates within
Human-Autonomy Teams (HATs). The emergence of advanced large language models
(LLMs) has extended the capabilities of AI, enabling machines to mimic
cognitive human functions and thus marking a new era of collaboration between
humans and AI. This transition has attracted many companies across diverse
industries, such as medicine, manufacturing, spaceflight, and construction,
where the development and integration of HATs are actively explored.

As the landscape of human-AI
collaboration continues to evolve, there is a critical need to delve deeper
into understanding how these teams will function. While research in the field
of Human-Autonomy Teams has been expanding rapidly, most studies have been limited
to controlled laboratory settings. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct more
field research to assess the real-world effectiveness of HATs, particularly in
workplace contexts.

This research focuses on exploring
the potential of AI-powered systems to support team effectiveness, with a
specific implementation context within ThoughtWorks. It aims to identify and
address the challenges of human collaboration in interdisciplinary product development
teams and examines how AI can be leveraged to enhance team effectiveness. By
proposing speculative AI-driven solutions to these challenges, the study
highlights not only the transformative potential of technology but also the
symbiotic relationship between humans and machines in the context of teamwork.

The outcome of this research offers
a futuristic vision of Human-AI teamwork scenarios and provides a framework for
examining AI's role within these scenarios to augment team effectiveness. The
study combines a comprehensive analysis with in-depth investigation, contributing
to a holistic understanding of the roles, capabilities, and interactions of AI
within teams, as well as the implications of these advancements for the future
of work.