Algorithms Trap Us in the Familiar. Can They Also Spark Breakthroughs?

Most digital tools are designed for efficiency, not exploration — and that can stymie innovation. New research shows that standard algorithms channel team members toward popular, familiar information, leading them to independently converge on the same ideas. But the researchers uncovered a surprisingly simple fix: By using algorithms designed to surface diverse, uncommon information, domain experts can avoid “ideation bubbles” and generate ideas across entirely new solution spaces.