AI-Driven Innovation Ecosystems for Complex NK Problem-Solving

We explore how emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies shape new organizational forms, specifically innovation ecosystems, aimed at developing and commercializing innovative value propositions. Our theorizing is informed by insights from the resource-based view, transaction cost economics and NK-modelling. We examine AI’s potential to improve the problem-solving capabilities embedded in governance structures and use NK modelling terminology to characterize problem complexity in terms of the properties of corresponding solution landscapes. We theorize a three-layered AI-driven innovation ecosystem configuration employing framework AI tech, governance AI tech and innovation AI tech that significantly enhances the capabilities of collaborative innovation arrangements in addressing complex problems. We clarify the role of capability development within these three AI technology classes to harness the value creation potential of such ecosystems and outline value appropriation implications of different levels of AI capability centralization.