Unconventional Strategies: The Interplay of Artificial Intelligence and Human Cognitive Capabilities

AI is able to outperform human decision-making in various decision-making settings. Especially augmented decision-making has become a potential source of competitive advantage. Therefore, this study explores how MNEs can utilize human-AI interaction to gain competitive advantage and investigates the potential factors that drive performance in a competitive human-AI task environment. We analyze human-AI interaction in the competitive context of chess and find that the more human-AI augmented decision-makers are considered an underdog against machines the higher the likelihood of pursuing unconventional strategies to throw off opponents. Our results suggest that this in turn has a positive effect on performance. Moreover, we find support that the positive relationship between unconventionality and performance is stronger, if human and machine originate from the same country.