A Theoretical Framework of the Structure of Augmented Creativity

Augmented creativity, where humans and generative artificial intelligence (genAI) collaboratively create novel and useful outcomes, is revolutionizing both the art industry and creative work, and is an important topic in Information Systems (IS) research. GenAI changes the structure of creativity as it takes on an agentic role in creative processes that cannot be accounted for in prevalent theoretical frameworks of creativity. To address the need for understanding augmented creativity theoretically, we draw on the sociomaterial notion of agency for theorizing human interaction with genAI. Following the thought-gear model of theorizing from literature, we develop a theoretical framework for the structure of augmented creativity, capturing the combined capacities of human and genAI in creativity. We discuss how the framework contributes to creativity and IS research and propose directions for future research. Our research contributes to theory by introducing a relational theoretical foundation for augmented creativity and by offering guidance to professionals collaborating creatively with genAI.