Capturing a moving target: Developing research on and with AI for Human Relations

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become part and parcel of scientific knowledge production since the latest iterations of generative AI models (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, or Gemini) became widely available. Given AI has rapidly evolved since the initial release of ChatGPT in 2022, researching how AI’s capabilities impact organizations and how researchers make use of AI tools can be likened to a moving target. In this editorial essay, we explore the implications of the introduction of AI in the context of academic research, both as the subject of investigation (i.e., research on AI) and as a research tool to facilitate academic writing, data generation, or the peer review process (i.e., research with AI). Specifically, concerning research on AI, we consider issues around clarity regarding both existing definitions and concepts in the AI literature and how these are influenced by the rapid technological evolution of AI’s capabilities. In regard to research with AI, we reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of AI as a research tool and discuss the Human Relations AI Usage Policy . Overall, our aim is not to be overly prescriptive on how to conduct research on and with AI but to encourage authors to reflect on how to best capture AI as a moving target in the context of their research endeavors.

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