How Might We use AI to innovate? An explorative study of the opportunities when integrating AI in the innovation process

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the opportunities with integrating AI into the innovation process. A robust qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews triangulated with desktop research, is used to identify possible application areas for AI in the innovation processes. Our findings contribute to innovation management research and especially the novel field concerned with how AI is used in the innovation process itself, and not as the result of the process. It is concluded that innovation practitioners can use AI to alter traditional design thinking tools or the innovation process itself. These findings are based on a mapping of contemporary cases, reflecting that there are opportunities related to the process, the principles as well as to the dynamic capabilities of a company. In conclusion, AI can alter how innovation practitioners do innovation, think about innovation as well as have implications beyond design thinking, on a strategic level.