Publications

2024
Working Paper

Human-Computer Interactions in Demand Forecasting and Labor Scheduling Decisions

By: Caleb Kwon, Ananth Raman and Jorge Tamayo

We investigate whether corporate officers should grant managers discretion to override AI-driven demand forecasts and labor scheduling tools. Analyzing five years of administrative data from a large grocery retailer using such an AI tool, encompassing over 500 stores,... View Details

Keywords: AI and Machine Learning; Forecasting and Prediction; Working Conditions; Performance Productivity

2025
Working Paper

Emotional Manipulation by AI Companions

By: Julian De Freitas, Zeliha Oğuz-Uğuralp and Ahmet Kaan-Uğuralp

AI-companion apps such as Replika, Chai, and Character.ai promise relational benefits—yet many boast session lengths that rival gaming platforms while suffering high long-run churn. What conversational design features increase consumer engagement, and what trade-offs... View Details

Keywords: Generative Ai; Chatbots; Emotional Manipulation; User Retention; Dark Side Of Technology; Consumer Welfare; AI and Machine Learning; Ethics; Consumer Behavior; Emotions; Perception

SSRN

29 Sep 2020
Blog Post

New Life for Old Tech: Startup Provides Network Security Solutions for Obsolete Devices

device-specific representation of each device on the network, and our generalizable machine learning approach and software-based installation allows us to scale to all legacy and modern devices.” For Breen,... View Details

January 2024 (Revised February 2024)
Case

OpenAI: Idealism Meets Capitalism

By: Shikhar Ghosh and Shweta Bagai

In November 2023, the board of OpenAI, one of the most successful companies in the history of technology, decided to fire Sam Altman, its charismatic and influential CEO. Their decision shocked the corporate world and had people wondering why OpenAI had designed a... View Details

Keywords: AI; AI and Machine Learning; Governing and Advisory Boards; Ethics; Strategy; Technological Innovation; Leadership

January 2025
Case

Moderna: Democratizing Artificial Intelligence

By: Iavor I. Bojinov, Karim R. Lakhani, Annika Hildebrandt and James Weber

The case study examines Moderna's journey in democratizing artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, across its workforce. It details the company's "digital-first, AI-focused" approach, including the rollout of OpenAI's ChatGPT Enterprise to all... View Details

Keywords: AI and Machine Learning; Technology Adoption; Innovation Strategy; Governance Controls; Biotechnology Industry

May–June 2024
Article

Should Your Brand Hire a Virtual Influencer?

By: Serim Hwang, Shunyuan Zhang, Xiao Liu and Kannan Srinivasan

Followers respond more favorably to sponsored posts by virtual influencers versus those by humans, costs are lower, and creating an influencer from scratch allows marketers to introduce more diversity. View Details

Keywords: Social Media; AI and Machine Learning; Brands and Branding; Power and Influence

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10 Apr 2025
Blog Post

IFC India 2025: SELCO - Decentralized Renewable Energy to Develop While Decarbonizing

challenges locally but also to scale and amplify successful models to other regions. As SELCO moves solutions from innovation to scale, they engage a diverse network of ecosystem stakeholders, including governments, financial... View Details

Web

Use of Electronic Resources | Baker Library

including but not limited to the sale of licensed materials Use licensed materials to develop, train, or refine artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as large language models (LLMs) or machine View Details

Profile

John Bracaglia

learning will impact a lot of industries," John says. "I want to show my colleagues the kind of impact AI can really have and how it applies to MBA students." In 2019, John took a lead role in organizing and running the... View Details

Keywords: Manufacturing/Energy; Tech; CPG

Research Summary

Overview

By: Todd A. Lensman

My research focuses on macroeconomics and innovation, combining theory and empirical methods to explore how new technologies drive economic growth and how firms shape the innovation and adoption of new technologies. View Details

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Innovation; Technological Change; Economics; Macroeconomics; Economic Growth; AI and Machine Learning; Technological Innovation; Innovation and Invention

January 2025
Article

Reducing Prejudice with Counter-stereotypical AI

By: Erik Hermann, Julian De Freitas and Stefano Puntoni

Based on a review of relevant literature, we propose that the proliferation of AI with human-like and social features presents an unprecedented opportunity to address the underlying cognitive and affective drivers of prejudice. An approach informed by the psychology of... View Details

Keywords: Prejudice and Bias; AI and Machine Learning; Interpersonal Communication; Social and Collaborative Networks

March 2025
Case

Mobvoi's Path Through Market Challenges and Business Reinvention

By: Paul A. Gompers and Shu Lin

Founded in 2012, Mobvoi evolved through multiple transformations—from AI-driven voice technology to smart wearables and later AI-generated content. Backed by major investors, the company navigated shifts in strategy while facing two failed IPO attempts. As market... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; AI and Machine Learning; Transformation; Initial Public Offering; Business Strategy; Technology Industry; China

September 2023
Case

Ada: Cultivating Investors

By: Reza Satchu and Patrick Sanguineti

Mike Murchison, co-founder and CEO of Ada, has an enviable dilemma. Launched in 2016 by Murchison and his co-founder David Hariri, Ada is an AI-native company that aims to revolutionize how businesses approach customer service. The company has already attracted a buzz,... View Details

Keywords: Founder; Fundraising; Business Startups; Decisions; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; AI and Machine Learning; Technology Industry

March–April 2025
Article

Strategy in an Era of Abundant Expertise: How to Thrive When AI Makes Knowledge and Know-How Cheaper and Easier to Access

By: Bobby Yerramilli-Rao, John Corwin, Yang Li and Karim R. Lakhani

The AI era is in its early stages, and the technology is evolving extremely quickly. Providers are rapidly introducing AI "copilots," "bots," and "assistants" into applications to augment employees' workflows. Examples include GitHub Copilot for coding, ServiceNow... View Details

Keywords: AI; AI and Machine Learning; Performance Productivity; Experience and Expertise; Technology Adoption

24 Nov 2008
Research & Ideas

Harvard Business School Discusses Future of the MBA

disciplines, explains Joel Podolny, dean of the Yale School of Management and a participant in the March colloquium. (He previously was a professor at HBS.) "The strict disciplinary model of management education arose at a time of... View Details

Keywords: by Roger Thompson & HBS Bulletin; Education

Web

Eva Tuecke | MBA

Currently, I am particularly excited by challenges in AI interpretability, healthtech, and applications of machine learning to quantum computing. LinkedIn: Eva Tuecke View Details

06 May 2002
Research & Ideas

A Toolkit for Customer Innovation

can easily tweak that parameter on the profile and have the machine immediately produce another sample. It is important to note that outsourcing product development to customers does not eliminate learning... View Details

Keywords: by Stefan Thomke & Eric Von Hippel

2025
Working Paper

Lessons from an App Update at Replika AI: Identity Discontinuity in Human-AI Relationships

By: Julian De Freitas, Noah Castelo, Ahmet Kaan Uğuralp and Zeliha Oğuz-Uğuralp

As consumers increasingly interact with AI applications specialized for social relationships, what is the nature and depth of these relationships among actual users, and can company actions influence these dynamics? We find that active users of the US-based AI... View Details

Keywords: AI and Machine Learning; Welfare; Loss; Well-being; Identity; Perception; Relationships

SSRN

October 2024 (Revised February 2025)
Case

AI and Brand Management: Promises and Perils

By: Julian De Freitas and Elie Ofek

As AI gains traction across industries, companies anticipate that AI will revolutionize both backend processes and customer-facing interactions—with brands eager to leverage AI for tailored marketing materials and automated consumer engagements. Yet, despite a dramatic... View Details

Keywords: AI and Machine Learning; Brands and Branding; Reputation; Technology Adoption; Competitive Advantage