Artificial intelligence is changing how people work, learn and communicate. But as organizations invest heavily in productivity and automation, an equally important question is emerging: how can people continue to thrive alongside increasingly capable AI systems?
On October 30, 2026, international business school INSEAD announced that it had received $3 million in funding from Google.org and Google DeepMind to establish a research initiative focused on the human impact of artificial intelligence.
The Research Lab for Human and Organisational Thriving, known as the INSEAD Thrive Lab, will investigate how technological transformation affects learning, employment, relationships and wellbeing.
The initiative also highlights several women in research and technology leadership who are helping shape the conversation about AI’s future.
Beyond productivity: understanding AI’s human impact
Much of the public discussion surrounding artificial intelligence focuses on technological capabilities.
Can AI systems write code, automate workflows, analyze information or improve business performance?
These questions matter, but they represent only part of the broader transformation.
As AI becomes integrated into workplaces, educational institutions and everyday life, researchers are increasingly examining how it affects human decision-making, professional identity, social relationships and psychological wellbeing.
INSEAD’s new laboratory will focus on three interconnected areas: learning, working and relating.
The goal is to understand how people and organizations can develop the capabilities needed to adapt to technological change while maintaining meaningful professional and personal lives.
Rather than treating AI adoption solely as a technical challenge, the initiative will approach it as a question involving human behavior, organizational development and social systems.
Meet Winnie Jiang, the academic director leading the lab
Winnie Jiang serves as Academic Director of the INSEAD Thrive Lab.
Jiang is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD, placing her work at the intersection of psychology, management and organizational research.
Her leadership is particularly relevant as companies confront questions about how AI changes the nature of work.
For example, automation may reduce the time required to complete certain tasks. But greater efficiency does not automatically translate into stronger career satisfaction, better relationships or a more meaningful work experience.
Understanding those outcomes requires research that goes beyond software performance.
The Thrive Lab aims to produce evidence that can help organizations make more informed decisions about technological transformation.
Lily Fang and the broader research leadership
Another prominent woman associated with the initiative is Lily Fang.
Fang is INSEAD’s Dean of Research and Innovation and Academic Director of its Human and Machine Intelligence Institute, which will house the new laboratory.
Her role connects the Thrive Lab to INSEAD’s broader research agenda involving artificial intelligence, economics, management and organizational decision-making.
The initiative also includes support from Google.org, where Sepi Hejazi Moghadam serves as Head of Foundations of Science.
Together, these leaders represent different but complementary aspects of AI innovation: academic research, institutional strategy and the funding of scientific inquiry.
Their involvement highlights how women contribute to emerging technology not only through engineering and product development, but also by directing research priorities and building the institutions that support discovery.
New opportunities for researchers and emerging scholars
INSEAD says the Thrive Lab intends to support emerging researchers through a PhD research award and a postdoctoral fellowship.
The initiative also plans to organize an annual global conference and collaborate with organizations, educational institutions and governments to translate research into practical insights.
These activities could create opportunities for researchers interested in artificial intelligence, organizational psychology, human-computer interaction and the future of work.
However, the announcement does not establish that applications for the research award or fellowship are currently open.
Specific eligibility requirements, award amounts and application deadlines should be confirmed through the official laboratory website before prospective candidates make plans.
Why this matters for women in STEM
Artificial intelligence is often described as a field dominated by software engineers, machine learning specialists and technical researchers.
But the questions surrounding AI’s impact on society require expertise from many disciplines.
Behavioral scientists study how people respond to technological change.
Organizational researchers investigate how workplace structures and leadership practices influence outcomes.
Human-computer interaction specialists examine how people use and understand technology.
Policy researchers evaluate the broader consequences of emerging systems.
For women pursuing STEM-related careers, these intersections create opportunities to participate in shaping AI’s development and implementation.
The Thrive Lab also demonstrates the importance of women holding decision-making positions in research institutions, where they can help determine which questions receive attention and resources.
What comes next
INSEAD announced the initiative during its AI Forum Asia in Singapore.
The laboratory plans to develop research partnerships, support emerging scholars and bring researchers and practitioners together through conferences and other programs.
Its longer-term impact will depend on the research produced, the quality of its collaborations and how effectively its findings influence real-world practices.
The $3 million commitment supports the establishment and work of the laboratory. It should not be interpreted as an open grant program offering $3 million directly to individual applicants.
As AI continues to reshape organizations, initiatives like the INSEAD Thrive Lab may help broaden the definition of successful technological progress.
The question is no longer simply whether artificial intelligence can make people more productive.
It is also whether the systems being developed can help people build fulfilling careers, maintain meaningful relationships and participate more effectively in a changing world.
For women in STEM, the opportunity extends beyond adapting to that future.
It includes helping define what that future should look like.
Sources & further reading
INSEAD, October 30, 2026: Official funding and laboratory announcement.
INSEAD Thrive Lab: Official research initiative website.
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This article is independent editorial coverage based on publicly available reporting. It is not sponsored by or affiliated with the organizations mentioned.
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