Frontiers in Psychology (Aug 2023)

Human-AI teaming: leveraging transactive memory and speaking up for enhanced team effectiveness

  • Nadine Bienefeld,
  • Michaela Kolbe,
  • Giovanni Camen,
  • Dominic Huser,
  • Philipp Karl Buehler,
  • Philipp Karl Buehler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1208019
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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In this prospective observational study, we investigate the role of transactive memory and speaking up in human-AI teams comprising 180 intensive care (ICU) physicians and nurses working with AI in a simulated clinical environment. Our findings indicate that interactions with AI agents differ significantly from human interactions, as accessing information from AI agents is positively linked to a team’s ability to generate novel hypotheses and demonstrate speaking-up behavior, but only in higher-performing teams. Conversely, accessing information from human team members is negatively associated with these aspects, regardless of team performance. This study is a valuable contribution to the expanding field of research on human-AI teams and team science in general, as it emphasizes the necessity of incorporating AI agents as knowledge sources in a team’s transactive memory system, as well as highlighting their role as catalysts for speaking up. Practical implications include suggestions for the design of future AI systems and human-AI team training in healthcare and beyond.

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