Artificial vs Human Intelligence: A qualitative study on how generative AI is impacting sell-side analysts

Sammanfattning

This thesis investigates how the current implementation of generative AI tools is impacting the role of the sell-side analyst. To acquire the relevant data, this study draws on ten in-depth interviews with both sell-side analysts and AI specialists. Using the theory of intertwined boundary work by Faulconbridge et al. (2023), this study showcases how generative AI tools are currently utilized by sell-side analysts as a starting point for initial, time-consuming tasks. Furthermore, this study demonstrates how the generative AI has led to four of Faulconbridge et al.'s (2023) modes of boundary work: defending, creating, negotiating and coalescing. Finally, this study further discusses two implications of these findings: (i) how the sell-side analysts' role as a financial intermediary changes and (ii) how they interplay with previously researched phenomena to impact the competitive dynamics of the sell-side analyst.