AI as an Agent and Collaborative Space: Exploring the role of Generative AI in Small Group Synchronous and Asynchronous Collaborative Dynamics

While Generative AI (GenAI) systems are designed primarily for individual use, it is increasingly integrated into collaborative work. Its impact, however, on collaboration dynamics, such as information flow, role negotiation, and decision-making, remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted a qualitative study comprising observations and semi-structured interviews with a total of 27 higher education students through the lens of distributed cognition. Our findings show that in synchronous settings, shared use of GenAI supported transparency and mutual awareness, with the interaction space functioning as attentional anchors, shared memory, and negotiable contributions to group decisions. Instead, in asynchronous teamwork, GenAI was typically used individually, with outputs later introduced into discussions, reducing opportunities for negotiation. As such, we contribute empirical evidence on GenAI’s influence on collaborative dynamics and design considerations that position GenAI-Supported Cooperative Work (GSCW) as a bridge between Human–AI Interaction and CSCW.