Generative AI Use in Entrepreneurship: An Integrative Review and an Empowerment-Entrapment Framework

An integrative review of generative AI (GenAI) use in entrepreneurship has been conducted to address fragmented research in the field. This review analyzes GenAI's impact across the entrepreneurial process, from opportunity recognition to venture growth, and proposes an 'Empowerment-Entrapment Framework'. This framework details the benefits, costs, and inherent trade-offs associated with GenAI's role for entrepreneurs.

Why it matters

The increasing adoption of Generative AI across various sectors necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its dual impact on strategic activities. For institutions supporting or engaging with entrepreneurial ventures, recognizing both the empowering and entrapping aspects of GenAI is crucial for informed decision-making and risk mitigation.

Key insights

• Research on Generative AI (GenAI) in entrepreneurship is currently fragmented, necessitating an integrative review.
• The review focuses on the entrepreneur's perspective regarding GenAI's influence at every stage of the entrepreneurial process.
• The entrepreneurial process stages examined include opportunity recognition and ideation, opportunity evaluation and commitment, resource assembly and mobilization, and venture launch and growth.
• The proposed Empowerment-Entrapment Framework catalogues both the benefits and costs of GenAI throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle.
• The framework identifies potential trade-offs, highlighting the 'double-edged role' of GenAI for entrepreneurs.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.02567