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Generative AI Instantly Elevates the Aptitude of Knowledge Workers: Consultants Achieve up to 49 Percentage Point Improvement on Complex Tasks Outside Their Skillset

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New Research by the BCG Henderson Institute Examines Impact of GenAI on Consultants’ Performance of Data Science Tasks Beyond Their Existing Capabilities

BOSTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Generative AI (GenAI) is creating a new type of knowledge worker who can code faster and summarize documents instantly. But can the tool also enable people to meet the shifting demands of their roles? A new scientific experiment conducted by the BCG Henderson Institute in collaboration with BCG X and Emma Wiles from Boston University, as described in GenAI Doesn’t Just Increase Productivity. It Expands Capabilities, examines what happens when, instead of using GenAI to improve performance within their current skillset, people use the technology to complete tasks beyond their existing capabilities.

In the experiment, 480 BCG consultants completed two of three short tasks that mimic the daily activities of a data scientist: writing Python code to merge and clean datasets, building a predictive model, and validating ChatGPT-generated statistical analyses. These tasks were designed to present a significant challenge for any consultant and could not be fully automated by the GenAI tool (Enterprise ChatGPT with GPT-4 and its Advanced Data Analysis Feature). To help evaluate participants’ performance, their results were compared with those of 44 BCG data scientists who worked without the assistance of GenAI.

“Our findings suggest that GenAI-augmented workers can adeptly handle new tasks beyond their existing skills in fields that are in the tool’s capabilities,” said Dan Sack, a BCG managing director and partner, and coauthor of the study. “Executives need to be ready for this future, redefining expertise and identifying the skills to grow and retain their talent for the long term.”

Instant Aptitude Expansion for New Tasks 

When using GenAI, the consultants in the study were able to instantly expand their aptitude for new tasks. Even when they had no experience in coding or statistics, consultants with access to GenAI were able to write code, appropriately apply machine learning models, and correct erroneous statistical processes. The biggest skill expansion was observed in coding, where participants were tested on their ability to write code in Python, a common programming language by data scientists. Participants who used GenAI achieved an average score equivalent to 86% of the benchmark set by data scientists, a 49 percentage point improvement over participants not using GenAI. The GenAI-augmented group also finished the task roughly 10% faster than the data scientists.

GenAI as a Powerful Brainstorming Partner

For the predictive analytics task, the experiment participants encountered a significant challenge: neither they nor the GenAI tool had a high level of proficiency in this area. Predictive analytics was the task which the GenAI-augmented consultant was least likely to perform on par with a data scientist, regardless of previous experience in coding or statistics, as the GenAI tool is likely to misunderstand the reliability prompt without trial and error or rephrasing of the question. As a result, participants with access to GenAI were more likely to be led astray than their nonaugmented counterparts.

With the support of GenAI, participants were able to brainstorm with the tool, combining their knowledge with GenAI’s knowledge to discover new modelling techniques and identify the correct steps to solve the problem successfully. The GenAI-augmented participants were 15 percentage points more likely to select and appropriately apply machine-learning methods than their counterparts who did not have access to GenAI.

“Doing GenAI” Doesn’t Mean Learning to Do 

Reskilling is defined as individuals gaining new capabilities or knowledge that enables them to move into a new job or industry. The study revealed that GenAI-augmented workers were in a sense “reskilled” in that they gained new capabilities that were beyond what either the human or GenAI could do on their own. But GenAI was only an exoskeleton; the humans alone were not intrinsically reskilled, because “doing” with GenAI does not immediately nor inherently mean “learning to do.”

While each participant was assigned just two of the three tasks in the experiment, everyone was given a final assessment with questions related to all three tasks to test how much they learned. Everyone was asked a coding syntax question, even though not all participants had done a coding task. Surprisingly, those who did this task scored the same as those who didn’t, indicating that performing the data science tasks did not increase their knowledge. It should be noted that the participants were not informed that they would be tested, and it is likely that with repetition and intention, learning would happen.

In addition, GenAI-augmented participants with moderate coding experience performed 10 to 20 percentage points better on all three tasks than their peers who self-identified as novices, even when coding was not involved. In fact, those with moderate coding experience were fully on par with data scientists for two of the three tasks—one of which had zero coding involved.

“As a parent, I often get asked what kids should study, and it’s something I think about when it comes to my own children,” said Sack. “This research has reinforced my belief that learning to code holds significant value, even if the prevailing opinion suggests that coding might be a thing of the past. It’s the engineering mindset that coding helps develop—like the ability to break down complex problems into manageable parts that can be efficiently tested and refined—that truly matters.”

Download the publication here:
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/gen-ai-increases-productivity-and-expands-capabilities

Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire:
+1 617 850 3783
gregoire.eric@bcg.com 

About the BCG Henderson Institute
The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science.

The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration from the Institute, please visit bcghendersoninstitute.com. To receive BHI’s latest research publications, please sign up here.

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

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Nation’s Top 300 Teen Scientists Selected for Achievements in STEM Innovation and Leadership in Nation’s Oldest and Most Prestigious High School Competition

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January 8, 2025

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Regeneron Science Talent Search Sees Record Number of Applicants; $1.2 Million to be Awarded to Nation’s Most Promising Young Scientists and Their Schools 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Society for Science (the Society) today announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The 300 scholars will be awarded $2,000 each and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from nearly 2,500 entrants from 795 high schools across 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 14 other countries. US citizens living abroad are eligible to apply.

Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations. The 300 scholars hail from 200 American and international high schools in 33 states, Washington D.C., China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland.

The full list of scholars can be viewed here: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-scholars/ 

“Congratulations to the 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News.  “With a record-breaking number of applications, these exceptional young scientists and engineers represent the best in the nation. We are thrilled to celebrate their ingenuity, hard work, and passion for STEM.”

The Regeneron Science Talent Search recognizes and empowers our nation’s most promising young scientists who are generating innovative solutions to solve significant global challenges through rigorous research and discoveries. The competition provides students with a national stage to present new ideas and challenge conventional ways of thinking.

Now in its 103rd year, Society for Science has played a significant role in educating the public about scientific discoveries as well as in identifying future leaders in science, technology, engineering and math. Regeneron has sponsored the Science Talent Search since 2017 as part of its deep commitment to STEM education and to supporting young scientists.

This year, research projects cover topics from Medicine and Health to Computer Science and more. Other students chose to focus on Social Science. With a total of 20 research categories, the top 5 categories among scholars’ projects this year include:  Medicine and Health (12%); Environmental Science (8%); Cellular and Molecular Biology (8%); Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (8%) and Engineering (7%).

“Congratulations to the Regeneron Science Talent Search top 300 scholars, who demonstrate the extraordinary potential of nurtured STEM talent,” said Christina Chan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Regeneron. “Our long-standing partnership with Society for Science is a cornerstone of our commitment to elevate these future scientific leaders, and we look forward to seeing how their discoveries will tackle global challenges and help improve our world.”

On January 23, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., taking place March 6-12, 2025.

For over eight decades, the Science Talent Search has rewarded talented high school seniors who dedicate countless hours to original research projects and present their results in rigorous reports that resemble graduate school theses. Collectively, STS alumni have received millions of dollars in scholarships and gone on to found world-changing companies, publish groundbreaking research, and win Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, MacArthur Fellowships and numerous other accolades.

Important Dates for 2024:

Top 40 Finalists Announced: January 23, 2025Regeneron STS Finals Week: March 6-12, 2025Public Exhibition of Projects: March 9, 2025Winners Announced at Awards Ceremony: March 11, 2025

Resources:

Regeneron STS Top 300 Scholar ListNotable STS AlumniSTS 2024 Highlights Video

About the Regeneron Science Talent Search
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science since 1942, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Each year, more than 2,000 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

In 2017, Regeneron became only the third sponsor of the Science Talent Search, making a 10-year, $100 million commitment to help reward, celebrate and encourage the best and brightest young scientific minds. Regeneron’s investment nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, increasing the top award to $250,000 and doubling the awards for the top 300 scholars to $2,000 and their schools to $2,000 for each enrolled scholar to inspire more young people to engage in science.

Learn more at https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/. 

About Society for Science
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact
Gayle Kansagor, Society for Science 
703-489-1131, gkansagor@societyforscience.org

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SOURCE Society for Science

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Net Health Acquires Alinea Engage to Further Optimize Patient Engagement and Outcomes in Rehab Therapy

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33 minutes ago

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January 8, 2025

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Investment will advance Net Health’s mission to provide patient-centric care by streamlining administrative processes for rehab therapy

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Net Health, a trusted source for specialized software solutions that empower restorative care providers across the continuum of care, today announced that it has acquired Alinea Engage (Alinea). Alinea provides web-based, enterprise level automation and patient engagement software for private and senior rehabilitation therapy providers. As part of Net Health, Alinea will help clients deliver exceptional care through patient engagement and increase revenue by improving reimbursement efficiency through revenue cycle automation and the reduction of claims denials.

“I’m excited to welcome the Alinea team, and clients, to the Net Health family,” said Ron Books, CEO of Net Health. “Over the years we have built lasting relationships with Alinea, and it became apparent that we share a common mission and a set of core values. Foremost among those values is a mandate to put clients at the heart of everything we do, by providing high-value technology that enables them to deliver better outcomes. By acquiring Alinea, we are reinforcing that commitment and strengthening our organizational portfolio to ultimately offer best-in-class, specialized solutions for all.”

Net Health’s clients will now have access to Alinea’s current features, including patient onboarding automation; patient and family engagement; and workflow automation for prior authorization and direct bill processes. Additionally, Net Health is committed to ensuring the Alinea team has the resources it needs to continue to help their clients grow. That includes investing in future generations of products, an aligned roadmap to help clients address market needs, and a robust client experience and support infrastructure.

Alinea clients will continue to benefit from the solutions they know and the expertise of the team they trust. Led by CEO and founder Carol Vance, the Alinea team will operate with the same independence that has contributed to their success. “We are thrilled to become part of the Net Health family, and excited about the opportunity to continue our work with greater investment, powerful product alignment with Net Health, and the infrastructure needed to strengthen our client partnerships.”

To learn more about Net Health and how its technology offerings are helping to improve outcomes for restorative care providers, visit http://nethealth.com. To learn more about Alinea Engage, visit https://alineawellness.com/.

About Net Health  
Net Health is a trusted source for more than 25,000 healthcare organizations across the continuum of care. Our specialized software solutions enable restorative care providers and their organizations to improve both patient outcomes and financial performance. Over 30 years of expertise in wound care and rehab therapy inform our electronic health record (EHR) software, patient engagement tools, and predictive analytics. Our technology platforms help administrators manage workflow, specialists engage with patients, and executives drive business growth. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity, and Silversmith Capital Partners. Learn more at www.nethealth.com.

About Alinea Engage
Alinea is a web-based platform that streamlines and automates workflows to help rehabilitation providers drive productive, profitable, person-centric care. Alinea reduces the administrative burden on clinicians, increases the capacity of revenue cycle and compliance teams, and effectively engages patients, responsible parties, and families. Exclusively integrated with Net Health, Alinea is on a mission to optimize care and connection for senior adults in Senior Living Communities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Private Homes by giving the rehabilitation providers that serve them the edge they need to deliver the best care possible. For more information, visit alineawellness.com.

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SOURCE Net Health Systems, Inc.

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Cengage Group Earns Equality 100 Award in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index

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33 minutes ago

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January 8, 2025

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Cengage Group has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as a leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion

BOSTON, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cengage Group, a global edtech company, today announced its score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. This year’s CEI includes 1,449 businesses –the highest number of companies rated since the start of the CEI in 2002.

This marks the fifth consecutive year Cengage Group has been included in the CEI, and the third year it earned a score of 100. Notably, this score reflects the company’s swift efforts to meet new LBGTQ+ benefits guidelines introduced by HRCF in 2023. The company launched a comprehensive guide for employees in early 2024, which helped return its score to 100.

“Once again, we are incredibly proud to receive recognition from the HRC, as it reaffirms our unwavering commitment to inclusion and belonging,” said Jeri Herman, Chief People Officer of Cengage Group. “At Cengage Group, we foster a culture that values transparency, collaboration and the authentic expression of our diverse workforce. We know that a more diverse workforce is not just the right thing to do, it helps drive business success; this is why we remain committed to attracting and retaining talent with a range of backgrounds and experiences.”

Herman continued, “We are able to advance these efforts through various initiatives that prioritize listening, learning and allyship. Additionally, our employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in developing programming that builds community and understanding across the organization.”

Along with 1,449 U.S. businesses, including Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, Cengage Group was rated against performance criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;Supporting an inclusive culture; and,Corporate social responsibility.

“The CEI is so much more than a score on paper. For decades businesses have relied on the CEI as a tool for transparency and leveling the playing field for all workers, making sure LGBTQ+ people and their families can share in fair, respectful and supportive workplaces and benefits,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, SHRM-CP, HRCF Senior Director of Workplace Equality. “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking. The work of the CEI is to help businesses to expand their consumer base and attract top, innovative talent by supporting the LGBTQ+ community.”

To learn more about CEI and Cengage Group’s recognition, view the full report at: http://www.hrc.org/cei.

About Cengage Group

With more than 100 years of serving learners, Cengage Group is a global edtech company that enables student choice. No matter how, where, when or why someone wants to learn, our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our three business units – Cengage Academic, Cengage Work, and Cengage Select – help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives. Visit us at www.cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

Media Contact:
Emily Featherston, Vice President, Corporate Communications, External
Emily.featherston@cengage.com

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SOURCE Cengage Group

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