2023 Future of Work Research Prize awarded to Jackson Lu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Zurich (Switzerland) — 15 December 2023
Jackson Lu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) receives the third annual UZH CLFW Future of Work Research Prize; Nicola Thomas (University of Sheffield) is honored as first runner-up and Amber Olson (University of Alabama) is awarded second runner-up.
The Center for Leadership in the Future of Work is delighted to announce the winner and runners-up for the third annual Future of Work Research Prize.
Jackson G. Lu, the Sloan School Career Development Associate Professor and an Associate Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, has been honored with the award for his project entitled “The Dark Side of Using Generative AI: For Individuals with Low Moral Identity, Using Generative AI Can Increase Unethical Behavior by Inducing a Shortcut Mindset” with collaborators Lesley Song (MIT), Dong Liu (Georgia Institute of Technology), Li Zhu and Jingjing Ma (Peking University). The research relates to how Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is reshaping how we work. While previous research has highlighted the positive aspects of using generative AI, like increased productivity, Dr. Lu’s study delves into its potential downsides. As people increasingly rely on generative AI for quick problem-solving, Dr. Lu’s research will explore how this may lead people to develop a shortcut mindset, bypassing standard procedures to save time. This mindset, particularly for those with low moral identity, may lead to more unethical behavior as it offers a convenient way to achieve goals. On the other hand, individuals with high moral identity may be better equipped to resist the temptation of unethical actions driven by the shortcut mindset. Dr. Lu’s research, conducted through surveys and a longitudinal field experiment in both China and the US, will shed light on the ethical implications of generative AI and its impact on the future of work. Click on the image above to view a short video of Jackson Lu’s research proposal.
The jury members also selected as first runner-up Nicola Thomas, a Work Psychology Lecturer at the University of Sheffield, for her project entitled “Emotions Under Surveillance: How is AI Monitoring and Manipulating Workers’ Emotions?” with collaborators Jade Brooks (University of Auckland) and Josh Morton (University of Leeds). Her proposed research explores how AI employee monitoring affects well-being, especially among marginalized employees, using both surveys and AI facial expression analysis. This research aims to advance understanding of stress, burnout, and marginalized employees and offers practical insights to ensure responsible AI-based monitoring.
The jury members honored as second runner-up Amber Olson, a PhD student in Management at the University of Alabama Manderson Graduate School of Business, for her project entitled “Digital Shadows: Unraveling the Impact of Social Media on Attitudes Toward Work” with collaborators Justin DeSimone, Maura Mills, Seth Butler, and Michael Ford (University of Alabama). Her three-part research project investigates the themes of negative work-related content online, public perception of this content, and how exposure to such content affects individuals' perceptions of work. This research not only contributes to academic knowledge about perceptions of justice, workplace attitudes, and work reform but also has practical implications for organizations seeking to understand and improve their employees' virtual social environment and performance.
The Center would also like to congratulate the three additional finalists for the submission of their exciting projects:
Liana Kreamer (Florida Institute of Technology), “Participation in Virtual Meetings: Using the ‘Chat’ as a Mechanism to Elevate Attendee Voices”
Meredith Lehman (University of Colorado), “Chaos, commitment, and community governance: How mission alignment drives positive outcomes under pervasive uncertainty in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations”
Jesus Juyumaya (University of Santo Tomás) and Madeleine Bausch (University of Chile), “App-Work in Context: Revisiting Job Demands and Resources Theory Across Cultures and Institutions”
The team at the CLFW would like to thank all of the submitters for their excellent contributions and inspirational research questions, all of which spoke to important human challenges in the future of work. We wish you all the best of luck with the future of your research!
The Future of Work Research Prize will return next year, opening submissions for the fourth annual prize in Summer 2024. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed of the publication of solicitations for submission.