The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

The AI Economy Institute (AIEI) is launching its third cohort of researchers to explore how AI is reshaping work and the broader economic landscape. This initiative aims to provide insights into the adoption of AI across industries and communities, ensuring people are equipped with knowledge to navigate the AI-driven future.

The third global research call centered on understanding how frontier firms are reshaping work and the economy. Researchers will analyze these firms to examine both firm-level transformations and economy-wide impacts, including changes in job design, skill demands, and productivity.

AIEI's first two cohorts focused on the talent pipeline, from higher education to early-career pathways. This year's cohort shifts focus to the economy itself, examining how leading organizations are adopting AI, redesigning work, and creating conditions for productivity and human agency at scale.

Since its launch, AIEI has received over 800 research proposals. The gap between AI's potential and its actual deployment will shape adoption rates. Researchers will explore how AI affects productivity, organizational shifts, and whether it enhances or displaces human learning.