Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the dynamics of teamwork, not merely by automating tasks but by fundamentally reshaping how teams collaborate and innovate. Recent studies and real-world applications have demonstrated that integrating generative AI into team settings enhances performance, fosters cross-functional thinking, and streamlines workflows.

Generative AI: A New Team Member

Traditionally, AI has been viewed as a tool for individual productivity—automating routine tasks, accelerating workflows, and reducing costs. However, its role is evolving into that of a collaborative team member. A notable study involving 776 professionals at Procter & Gamble, conducted in collaboration with researchers from Harvard University, the Wharton School, and ESSEC Business School, explored this concept. The study posed a bold question: Can AI act as a teammate? The findings were compelling: individuals using generative AI matched the performance of human teams working without it, and teams augmented with generative AI outperformed all others, delivering higher-quality, faster solutions with more comprehensive detail.

Breaking Down Silos with AI

Cross-functional collaboration often faces challenges due to departmental silos, with team members approaching problems from their specific domain perspectives. Generative AI has shown promise in dissolving these barriers. In the same study, both R&D and commercial professionals using generative AI produced solutions that seamlessly integrated technical and commercial dimensions. The AI interface encouraged them to think beyond their professional defaults, fostering a more holistic approach to problem-solving.

Real-World Applications and Benefits

The theoretical advantages of generative AI are being realized in various industries. For instance, Grind, a coffee retailer, has integrated generative AI across its operations—from generating marketing content to managing customer queries and creating performance reports. CEO David Abrahamovitch emphasized that AI tools are viewed as assistants that “supercharge” employees rather than replace them, drawing parallels to the transformative impact of email on productivity.

Similarly, JPMorgan Chase has implemented a generative AI tool called LLM Suite, available to 200,000 employees. CEO Jamie Dimon highlighted how the tool aids in refining presentations, fostering enthusiasm and healthy competition among divisions to leverage AI for enhanced efficiency. The bank offers training to help employees effectively use these AI tools, aiming to augment rather than replace jobs.

Enhancing Knowledge Management

Combining knowledge management with generative AI unlocks new levels of knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Users can seamlessly ask questions and receive personalized responses, fostering a more engaging and efficient knowledge-sharing environment. This integration accelerates agility by automating time-consuming tasks such as creating summaries and generating metadata, allowing knowledge workers to focus on value-added activities. 

The Future of AI in Teamwork

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into team dynamics will become more profound. Agentic AI systems, capable of planning, deciding, and acting autonomously, are poised to redefine organizational operations and competition. These systems can orchestrate complex workflows with minimal human intervention, becoming the backbone of the knowledge economy. Success in leveraging agentic AI will depend on how leaders from various parts of the organization come together to redesign operating models and prioritize high-impact use cases.