The impact of artificial intelligence on innovation management: A literature review

Abstract

The digital transformation and its accompanying artificial intelligence processes are becoming the essential focus of the contemporaneous digital revolution. Its real impacts, challenges, and opportunities on the industry and the business environment remain unknown. In this context, innovation has become the main driver of competitiveness. Nevertheless, innovation is no longer an isolated and residual agent but a crucial mindset that should be embedded in all workers and all activities of a company, as innovation can improve an organisation's performance and the employees' well-being and working conditions. In this context, the growth of artificial intelligence in the business world seems to be changing the way companies innovate and manage innovation processes. This paper presents a literature review study whose objective is to get insights into publications that relate innovation management and artificial intelligence. The method used in this study is based on the analysis of data obtained from the Scopus database. As a general insight, it is concluded that Al systems can free managers from more technical and exhaustive research tasks and enhance creative processes. This way, managers can focus more on creativity applied to problem-solving and the conception and development of innovation strategies. In terms of originality, this study aims to contribute and stimulate data-driven discussions regarding the possible impacts of artificial intelligence on innovation processes. This study also explores directions for future research.