INSEAD Launches INSEAD Thrive Lab with Google Funding
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FONTAINEBLEAU, France and SINGAPORE and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- INSEAD, The Business School for the World, has launched a new research initiative aimed at understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts human connectivity, meaning, and wellbeing in both work and life. The initiative, known as the Research Lab for Human and Organisational Thriving (INSEAD Thrive Lab), has received a significant US$3 million funding boost from Google.org and Google DeepMind.
The lab will focus on three interconnected domains: Learning, Working, and Relating. Its mission is to explore how people and organizations can thrive in an era of continuous technological transformation.
INSEAD Thrive Lab is housed under the Human and Machine Intelligence Institute (HUMII), a cross-disciplinary research institute that includes renowned scholars such as the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Philippe Aghion, and the 2025 Oskar Morgenstern Medallist, Phanish Puranam. The lab will leverage this expertise to conduct rigorous, multidisciplinary research aimed at generating actionable insights and fostering real-world impact.
The research will address critical questions such as how to strengthen human, social, and psychological capital in the face of relentless technological change.
INSEAD Thrive Lab will build on the school's mission to develop responsible leaders who transform organizations and society. It will serve as a global hub for research, dialogue, and innovation around the human dimension of progress. To achieve this, the lab will train emerging scholars through its PhD research award and postdoctoral fellowship programs. Additionally, it will host an annual global conference to bring together the wider research community.
The announcement was made during the INSEAD AI Forum Asia, held at the INSEAD Asia Campus in Singapore. The event serves as a platform for dialogue between researchers, business leaders, policymakers, and the public, with the goal of advancing the beneficial and responsible use of AI to benefit business and society. The next edition of the INSEAD AI Forum will take place in the United Arab Emirates from January 27 to 28, 2027.
INSEAD, with its global presence in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, continues to conduct cutting-edge research and innovate across all its programs. The school's 162 renowned faculty members from 40 countries inspire more than 1,700 degree participants annually in its Master in Management, MBA, Global Executive MBA, Specialised Master's degrees, and PhD programs. Moreover, more than 21,000 executives participate in INSEAD's Executive Education programs each year.
With an alumni network of over 73,000 members representing 176 nationalities across 183 countries, INSEAD remains committed to developing responsible leaders who can transform organizations and society. The launch of INSEAD Thrive Lab marks a significant step in this mission, as the school aims to explore the human impact of AI and contribute to the global conversation on this transformative technology.