AI for Managing Open Innovation: Opportunities, Challenges, and a Research Agenda

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides ample opportunities for enabling effective knowledge sharing among organizations seeking to foster open innovation. Past research often investigates the capability of AI to perform ‘human’ tasks in structured application fields. Yet, there is a lack of research that systematically analyzes when and how AI can be used for the more complex and unstructured tasks of open innovation (OI). We present a framework for leveraging AI-enabled applications to foster productive OI collaborations. Specifically, we create a 3x3 matrix by aligning the three OI stages (initiation, development, realization) with the three management functions of AI (mapping, coordinating, controlling). This matrix assists in identifying how various AI applications may augment or automate human intelligence, thereby helping to resolve prevailing OI challenges. It provides guidance on how organizations can use AI to establish, execute and govern exchanges across the OI stages. Finally, we lay out an agenda for future research.