On July 10, 2026, Leonie Freise successfully defended her dissertation titled “The Role of Generative AI in Changing Skills and Enabling Job Crafting.”

During her dissertation defense, she presented key findings from her research on the extent to which the use of ChatGPT influences employees’ work demands and resources when tackling poorly structured problem-solving tasks. Her study was based on two empirical studies, conducted as an EEG experiment, in which she analyzed whether, when, and under what conditions cognitive offloading plays a role.

The results show that the use of ChatGPT is associated with an increase in structural work resources and a reduction in hindering work demands. While no mediating effect of cognitive offloading on structural work resources could be demonstrated, the results of the EEG experiment confirmed the assumption that cognitive offloading mediates the relationship between the use of generative AI and the reduction of hindering work demands. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the use of ChatGPT is associated with lower frontal cortical activation.

With her dissertation, Dr. Freise makes both theoretical and practical contributions to research at the intersection of business informatics, job crafting, and artificial intelligence. On a theoretical level, the work expands our understanding of how generative AI transforms competencies and enables job crafting. Furthermore, it provides evidence that cognitive offloading is a central mechanism underlying the impact of generative AI on work demands and resources, and links insights from NeuroIS research with work-related findings.

It also offers concrete recommendations for practice. HR managers should promote psychological safety so that generative AI is perceived as a source of support and an opportunity for development rather than as a tool for surveillance, and should establish continuous learning as an integral part of the organizational culture. For IT managers, the study underscores the importance of clear governance structures and transparent rules for the use of AI systems. It also shows that building AI competencies should go far beyond teaching prompting techniques; employees must be empowered to use generative AI in a reflective and informed manner.

The Department of Business Informatics extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Leonie Freise on successfully defending her dissertation and wishes her all the best and continued success in her future academic and professional endeavors.