Research

My research focuses on AI and the Future of Collaborative Innovation.
I explore how AI amplifies human potential in:
(1) advancing future of work, (2) accelerating innovations, and (3) enabling social impact.

Research Projects

Zhao, Z., Cho, K., Aaltonen, A., & Straub, D. "Decoding Coding Advice: Evaluating Out-of-the-Box Solutions from Generative AI." Under Revision at MIS Quarterly.
Presented at INFORMS 2024, AOM 2024, IC2S2 2024, SCECR 2023, Harvard Business School 2023 

Scheepers, R., Zhao, Z., & Straub, D. "Information-Based Competitiveness in the Digital Era: A Theory of Digital Information Asymmetries." Under Review at Strategic Management Journal.
Presented at AOM 2025

Zhao, Z., Aaltonen, A., & Pang, M.S. "Kill Two Birds with One Stone: Using Cross-Platform Software Development Kits for Digital Innovations."
Presented at AOM 2025, BU PlatStrat 2024, EU-DPRN 2024, ICIS 2023, AMCIS 2023 [Top 25% ERF Paper]

Zhao, Z., Shan, G., Jung, J., & Wattal, S. "Shortcut or Blind Spots? The Impact of Generative Search on Information Searching for Knowledge Work."
Presented at AMCIS 2025 [Best ERF Paper]

Zhao, Z., Cho, K., Aaltonen, A., & Straub, D. "Making the Invisible Visible: Computational Process Tracing of Human-GenAI Collaboration."
Presented at INFORMS 2025, INFORMS Data Science 2025, NYU AI Workshop 2025, AI at Wharton 2025 

Zhao, Z. Pang, M.S., & Straub, D. "I've Got Your Daughter: How Does Generative AI Exacerbate or Mitigate Deepfake Cybercrime?"
Presented at CHI 2024  

Mandviwalla, M., Straub, D., & Zhao, Z. "The Road to AI: Theorizing Automating, Informating, and Autonomating in the Next Wave of Digitalization."
Presented at AOM 2025, Advanced Practices Council Meeting at Society for Information Management 2025

Other Publication

Zhao, Z., Hönigsberg, S., & Mandviwalla, M. (2025). Digital Driven Success: The Digitalization Effect on SME Performance. Information Technology for Development, 1-27.

Research Keywords & Connection of Streams