It’s Hard to Use AI as a Team. These 3 Practices Can Help.

Many organizations expect AI to automatically improve teamwork, but research shows the opposite can occur. Without intentional integration, AI can reduce engagement, narrow participation in meetings, and shift ownership away from the team. A five-month study of managers identifies a critical new capability: Human-AI Team Chemistry. This does not emerge naturally and must be deliberately developed through three practices. First, teams should engage with AI as a team , ensuring it responds to the group’s full context rather than a single user. Second, they should leverage AI’s role fluidity, assigning it multiple personas to deepen discussion. Third, teams must maintain collective ownership, jointly shaping prompts, debating outputs, and critically evaluating AI’s contributions. When applied, these practices significantly improve outcomes. Teams report higher engagement, stronger alignment, and better decisions, while also reducing risks like over-reliance on AI.