Seminars topic: This study examines how the disclosure that creative output is AI-generated reshapes consumer demand in the music industry. Exploiting a natural experiment in which a popular musician’s AI identity was publicly revealed, the research shows that audiences significantly discount creative output once it is known to be AI-generated. This algorithm aversion also spills over to human musicians with similar styles, with the negative effect concentrated in genres perceived as lower in human expressiveness and more amenable to algorithmic generation. The findings further show that musicians stylistically closer to AI and those without established careers suffer greater losses. Overall, the study demonstrates how GenAI participation in creative markets reshapes consumer preferences toward both human and AI-generated content.

Scholars Background: Associate Prof. XU Mingjun is in the Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategy at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. He received his Ph.D. from Purdue University. His research focuses on intellectual property, property rights theory, artificial intelligence, and the healthcare industry. His work has been published in leading journals including Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Harvard Business Review, and Tsinghua Business Review.

Time and Location: March 13, 10:00–11:30, Room A823, School of Management

Language: EN

Host: Prof. WU Zhiyan