Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
I am a digital business scholar. My research focuses on service digitalisation and how it interacts with vulnerability.
www.anacanhoto.com
Ana Isabel Drago Lobato is a Portuguese sociologist and a politician of the Left Bloc party.
Source: Wikipedia
Business
38%
Sociology
17%
Why High-Performing AI Fails the Human Test
With AI technology (particularly language models) performing increasingly well in traditional measures of expert knowledge such as medical licensing exams or the assessment of research environments, many are now considering how to deploy “out in the world” so that they can assist customers, patients, public services users, and so on. If yes, there is the potential to move beyond productivity considerations, to impact on access to services and knowledge.
anacanhoto.com
Why High-Performing AI Fails the Human Test
With AI technology (particularly language models) performing increasingly well in traditional measures of expert knowledge such as medical licensing exams or the assessment of research environments, many are now considering how to deploy “out in the…
With AI technology (particularly language models) performing increasingly well in traditional measures of expert knowledge such as medical licensing exams or the assessment of research environments, many are now considering how to deploy “out in the…
Algorithms as the problem vs the solution to discrimination in the digital age
We know that algorithms are everywhere, from curating our news and social media feeds, to scoring our job and credit applications. And many have warned that algorithms deepen unfairness. For instance, in 2021, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released a report breaking down how algorithms may harm consumers and markets, because they can: Personalise prices in ways that target vulnerable consumers.
anacanhoto.com
Algorithms as the problem vs the solution to discrimination in the digital age
We know that algorithms are everywhere, from curating our news and social media feeds, to scoring our job and credit applications. And many have warned that algorithms deepen unfairness. For instance, in 2021, the UK’s…
We know that algorithms are everywhere, from curating our news and social media feeds, to scoring our job and credit applications. And many have warned that algorithms deepen unfairness. For instance, in 2021, the UK’s…
December 2025 and January 2026 round-up
December and January involved a lot of travel. Some travel was fun, such as a surprise mother-daughter trip. Other was bitter-sweet, such as trips to spend time with a close relative whose health was rapidly deteriorating (and sadly passed away at the end of January). Quite the contrast (or, as a colleague put it: the paradoxes of living in action)!
anacanhoto.com
December 2025 and January 2026 round-up
December and January involved a lot of travel. Some travel was fun, such as a surprise mother-daughter trip. Other was bitter-sweet, such as trips to spend time with a close relative whose health was rapidly deteriorating (and sadly passed away at the end of…
December and January involved a lot of travel. Some travel was fun, such as a surprise mother-daughter trip. Other was bitter-sweet, such as trips to spend time with a close relative whose health was rapidly deteriorating (and sadly passed away at the end of…
The Algorithmic Transparency Paradox: Accountability vs Behaviour Distortion
When we don’t know that an algorithm has been used to make a decision that impacts us, we can’t challenge those decisions, or fix any mistakes. According to Anne-Britt Gran, Peter Booth and Taina Bucher, such lack of awareness constitutes a new form of digital divide: “Not only does a lack of algorithm awareness pose a threat to democratic participation in terms of access to information, but users are performatively involved in shaping their own conditions of information access.
anacanhoto.com
The Algorithmic Transparency Paradox: Accountability vs Behaviour Distortion
When we don’t know that an algorithm has been used to make a decision that impacts us, we can’t challenge those decisions, or fix any mistakes. According to Anne-Britt Gran, Peter Booth and Taina Bucher, such lack of…
When we don’t know that an algorithm has been used to make a decision that impacts us, we can’t challenge those decisions, or fix any mistakes. According to Anne-Britt Gran, Peter Booth and Taina Bucher, such lack of…
Social media as a source of competitive intelligence
There is an old Chinese saying that goes something like this ‘Know yourself, know the competition, and get it right almost every time’. The good news is that social media has brought with it many opportunities to anticipate competitors’ likely moves. This post discusses a few. Competitive Analysis The first step in competitive analysis is to define the competition…
anacanhoto.com
Social media as a source of competitive intelligence
There is an old Chinese saying that goes something like this ‘Know yourself, know the competition, and get it right almost every time’. The good news is that social media has brought with it many opportunities to anticipate competitors’ likely…
There is an old Chinese saying that goes something like this ‘Know yourself, know the competition, and get it right almost every time’. The good news is that social media has brought with it many opportunities to anticipate competitors’ likely…
Capturing human complexity in categories
I suspect that we have all had the experience of filling in a form and not finding a box that exactly describes us. That’s because those forms are trying to fit us into neat categories, whereas our identities, behaviours and preferences are often fluid, contextual, and relational. So, there is a clash between the managerial desire for clarity on the one hand and the reality of human nature on the other.
anacanhoto.com
Capturing human complexity in categories
I suspect that we have all had the experience of filling in a form and not finding a box that exactly describes us. That’s because those forms are trying to fit us into neat categories, whereas our identities, behaviours and preferences are often fluid,…
I suspect that we have all had the experience of filling in a form and not finding a box that exactly describes us. That’s because those forms are trying to fit us into neat categories, whereas our identities, behaviours and preferences are often fluid,…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Jan 12
New paper: Marketing Education in the Age of Generative AI
One of my colleagues has completely redesigned their module. Generative AI is now central to every workshop and even assessment, with the aim of preparing students are ready for a job market that increasingly demands generative AI skills. In contrast, another colleague started using in-class assessment, with pen and paper, to ensure assessment integrity. These two opposed approaches are evidence of the same fact: whether you embrace generative AI or reject it, as an educator you simply can’t ignore it.
anacanhoto.com
New paper: Marketing Education in the Age of Generative AI
One of my colleagues has completely redesigned their module. Generative AI is now central to every workshop and even assessment, with the aim of preparing students are ready for a job market that increasingly demands generative AI skills.…
One of my colleagues has completely redesigned their module. Generative AI is now central to every workshop and even assessment, with the aim of preparing students are ready for a job market that increasingly demands generative AI skills.…
Does blogging still make sense in the age of generative AI?
In the 15 years since I set up this blog, the blogging landscape has changed dramatically. And, now, generative AI is throwing yet another spanner in the works. So, on this blog anniversary, I find myself asking: Does it still make sense to keep a personal blog, as an academic? Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash Technological changes and academic blogging…
anacanhoto.com
Does blogging still make sense in the age of generative AI?
In the 15 years since I set up this blog, the blogging landscape has changed dramatically. And, now, generative AI is throwing yet another spanner in the works. So, on this blog anniversary, I find myself asking: Does it still make sense…
In the 15 years since I set up this blog, the blogging landscape has changed dramatically. And, now, generative AI is throwing yet another spanner in the works. So, on this blog anniversary, I find myself asking: Does it still make sense…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Dec 15
Recent publications #8
Here is my regular(ish) update on the key research outputs published in the last year or so. As always, I welcome readers who want to reach out to discuss any aspects of this work, or opportunities to collaborate. Journal articles Canhoto, A.I., Manika, D., Wainwright, E. & Holder, D.-M. (2025), The impact of technology: how features, resources and task demands shape digital well-being.
anacanhoto.com
Recent publications #8
Here is my regular(ish) update on the key research outputs published in the last year or so. As always, I welcome readers who want to reach out to discuss any aspects of this work, or opportunities to collaborate. Journal articles Canhoto, A.I., Manika, D., Wainwright, E. &…
Here is my regular(ish) update on the key research outputs published in the last year or so. As always, I welcome readers who want to reach out to discuss any aspects of this work, or opportunities to collaborate. Journal articles Canhoto, A.I., Manika, D., Wainwright, E. &…
November 2025 round-up
November brought shoulder injuries, fractured fingers, and medical appointments galore (fortunately, not for me). But, on a more positive note, the Christmas tree is up. It feels like the older the kids get, the earlier the tree goes up, which is very much the opposite of what I thought would happen! The kiddo and the (no-longer) teen overlapped for a few hours at home, which was lovely.
anacanhoto.com
November 2025 round-up
November brought shoulder injuries, fractured fingers, and medical appointments galore (fortunately, not for me). But, on a more positive note, the Christmas tree is up. It feels like the older the kids get, the earlier the tree goes up, which is very much the opposite of…
November brought shoulder injuries, fractured fingers, and medical appointments galore (fortunately, not for me). But, on a more positive note, the Christmas tree is up. It feels like the older the kids get, the earlier the tree goes up, which is very much the opposite of…
Why Influencer Marketing Roles Are Rising While Creative Jobs Are Declining
A recent analysis of nearly 180 million global job postings from 2023 to 2025, by Henley Wing Chiu at Bloomberry, reveals an interesting split in labour market trends. Execution-focused, creative jobs are experiencing steep declines. For instance, in the two years covered by this analysis, computer graphic artist roles are down by 33%, writer roles by 28%, search engine specialist roles by 15%, and content marketer roles by 11%.
anacanhoto.com
Why Influencer Marketing Roles Are Rising While Creative Jobs Are Declining
A recent analysis of nearly 180 million global job postings from 2023 to 2025, by Henley Wing Chiu at Bloomberry, reveals an interesting split in labour market trends. Execution-focused, creative jobs are experiencing…
A recent analysis of nearly 180 million global job postings from 2023 to 2025, by Henley Wing Chiu at Bloomberry, reveals an interesting split in labour market trends. Execution-focused, creative jobs are experiencing…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Nov 24
The global footprint of generative AI
Recently, I came across the Cartography of Generative AI, a fabulous resource created by the Estampa group. Image source: This resource shows how chatbots and other gen Ai interfaces are part of a dense, intricate and vast global system of physical resources, human labour, data flows, and economic structures. The right area of graph depicts the physical foundations…
anacanhoto.com
The global footprint of generative AI
Recently, I came across the Cartography of Generative AI, a fabulous resource created by the Estampa group. Image source: This resource shows how chatbots and other gen Ai interfaces are part of a dense, intricate and vast global system of physical resources,…
Recently, I came across the Cartography of Generative AI, a fabulous resource created by the Estampa group. Image source: This resource shows how chatbots and other gen Ai interfaces are part of a dense, intricate and vast global system of physical resources,…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Key points from OECD’s report on Generative AI and SMEs
A new report from the OECD sheds light on how more than 5,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across seven countries (Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, and the UK) are engaging with generative AI. This is an important report because while SMEs form the backbone of most economies, much of the of the discussion about AI adoption focuses on big corporations.
anacanhoto.com
Key points from OECD’s report on Generative AI and SMEs
A new report from the OECD sheds light on how more than 5,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across seven countries (Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, and the UK) are engaging with generative AI. This is an important…
A new report from the OECD sheds light on how more than 5,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across seven countries (Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, and the UK) are engaging with generative AI. This is an important…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Nov 10
October 2025 round-up
I have fully embraced Autumn, this month, with soups, walks on crunchy leaves, and, of course, Halloween celebrations. Oh, and I was interviewed by the BBC, on the use of AI-generated images for scams. Research I joined a group at Sussex, preparing a funding application to create a doctoral centre. And, at the end of the month, I travelled to Barcelona to meet with some great colleagues to work on a research idea for a grant application.
anacanhoto.com
October 2025 round-up
I have fully embraced Autumn, this month, with soups, walks on crunchy leaves, and, of course, Halloween celebrations. Oh, and I was interviewed by the BBC, on the use of AI-generated images for scams. Research I joined a group at Sussex, preparing a funding application to…
I have fully embraced Autumn, this month, with soups, walks on crunchy leaves, and, of course, Halloween celebrations. Oh, and I was interviewed by the BBC, on the use of AI-generated images for scams. Research I joined a group at Sussex, preparing a funding application to…
The Rise of AI-Enhanced Scams — and How to Protect Yourself
I was recently interviewed by the BBC about the use of AI-generated images in scam websites. The story followed reports that a small jeweller was being inundated with calls and emails from customers mistaking her legitimate business (Scarlett Jewellery) for a scam website with a very similar name (Scarlett Jewels). One of the features of the scam website is that it uses AI-generated images.
anacanhoto.com
The Rise of AI-Enhanced Scams — and How to Protect Yourself
I was recently interviewed by the BBC about the use of AI-generated images in scam websites. The story followed reports that a small jeweller was being inundated with calls and emails from customers mistaking her legitimate business…
I was recently interviewed by the BBC about the use of AI-generated images in scam websites. The story followed reports that a small jeweller was being inundated with calls and emails from customers mistaking her legitimate business…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Oct 20
The role of emotions in B2B marketing
We often assume that emotions play little to no role in business-to-business (B2B) relationships. Rather, decisions in a B2B context are deemed to be purely rational, and to follow a complex process with multiple decision makers. Yet, a metanalysis of research on this topic, conducted by Anne-Madeleine Kranzbühler, Alfred Zerres, Mirella H. P. Kleijnen and Peeter W. J. Verlegh suggests otherwise.
anacanhoto.com
The role of emotions in B2B marketing
We often assume that emotions play little to no role in business-to-business (B2B) relationships. Rather, decisions in a B2B context are deemed to be purely rational, and to follow a complex process with multiple decision makers. Yet, a metanalysis of research…
We often assume that emotions play little to no role in business-to-business (B2B) relationships. Rather, decisions in a B2B context are deemed to be purely rational, and to follow a complex process with multiple decision makers. Yet, a metanalysis of research…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Oct 13
LLMs learn from data about how people believe the world to be, not data about how the world is
It is widely acknowledged that answers produced by large language models (LLMs) reproduce the biases that informed how they were trained. For instance, assuming that doctors are male while nurses are female. Though, that bias doesn’t simply reflect the systemic inequality in our society. Rather, it reflects the prevalent stereotypes, that is the type of image commonly associated with a particular type of person (namely, male vs female).
anacanhoto.com
LLMs learn from data about how people believe the world to be, not data about how the world is
It is widely acknowledged that answers produced by large language models (LLMs) reproduce the biases that informed how they were trained. For instance, assuming that doctors are male while nurses are…
It is widely acknowledged that answers produced by large language models (LLMs) reproduce the biases that informed how they were trained. For instance, assuming that doctors are male while nurses are…
September 2025 round-up
This was a big month on the personal front: I got my British citizenship achieved a key personal goal that I had set for 2025; plus, the kiddo started University. I spent the last 20 or so years wishing for the day when I wouldn’t have to plan work around the school day. I imagined that my productivity would increase dramatically, if I didn’t have to interrupt work because of school runs or after school stuff.
anacanhoto.com
September 2025 round-up
This was a big month on the personal front: I got my British citizenship achieved a key personal goal that I had set for 2025; plus, the kiddo started University. I spent the last 20 or so years wishing for the day when I wouldn’t have to plan work around the school day. I…
This was a big month on the personal front: I got my British citizenship achieved a key personal goal that I had set for 2025; plus, the kiddo started University. I spent the last 20 or so years wishing for the day when I wouldn’t have to plan work around the school day. I…
Ana Isabel Canhoto
@acanhoto.bsky.social
· Sep 29
When Generative AI Makes Us Smart vs. Average
It has been noted by many different people that large language models (LLMs) can, to a certain extent, democratise access to information. Because these models are trained on massive datasets, and use an intuitive prompt-and-response format, they enable users to quickly learn the basics on a given topic or, conversely, do a deep dive on narrow topics of interest. For instance, I have been having an exchange on ChatGPT about “getting into gardening”, which started with general information about things to consider such as light, soil, basic tools, etc… and has now progressed to specific suggestions about what to do at different times of the year, given the area where I live and, even, which local resources and garden centres to visit for inspiration and advice.
anacanhoto.com
When Generative AI Makes Us Smart vs. Average
It has been noted by many different people that large language models (LLMs) can, to a certain extent, democratise access to information. Because these models are trained on massive datasets, and use an intuitive prompt-and-response format, they enable…
It has been noted by many different people that large language models (LLMs) can, to a certain extent, democratise access to information. Because these models are trained on massive datasets, and use an intuitive prompt-and-response format, they enable…
July and August 2025 round-up
This summer was mostly about celebrating several milestones in the kiddo’s life: end of school celebration, leavers’ ball, 18th birthday, A-level results’ day, driving test… But I also enjoyed catching up with friends, reading various fiction and non-fiction books, and swimming lots and lots and lots. Research We finished analysing the first stage of data collection at one of the companies we are working with, for the project on AI agents, and presented the findings to them.
anacanhoto.com
July and August 2025 round-up
This summer was mostly about celebrating several milestones in the kiddo’s life: end of school celebration, leavers’ ball, 18th birthday, A-level results’ day, driving test… But I also enjoyed catching up with friends, reading various fiction and non-fiction books,…
This summer was mostly about celebrating several milestones in the kiddo’s life: end of school celebration, leavers’ ball, 18th birthday, A-level results’ day, driving test… But I also enjoyed catching up with friends, reading various fiction and non-fiction books,…
Interviewed for the podcast “Business Talk”
Recently, I was a guest in the podcast “Business Talk”, hosted by Deepak Bhatt. We explored why digital technology is sometimes helpful and sometimes a hindrance, based on the paper “The impact of technology: how features, resources and task demands shape digital well-being”. You can read the blog post about that paper, here. It was an insightful discussion about:
anacanhoto.com
Interviewed for the podcast “Business Talk”
Recently, I was a guest in the podcast “Business Talk”, hosted by Deepak Bhatt. We explored why digital technology is sometimes helpful and sometimes a hindrance, based on the paper “The impact of technology: how features, resources and task demands…
Recently, I was a guest in the podcast “Business Talk”, hosted by Deepak Bhatt. We explored why digital technology is sometimes helpful and sometimes a hindrance, based on the paper “The impact of technology: how features, resources and task demands…
Reposted by Ana Isabel, Ana Isabel Canhoto
Cambridge engineers seek help for dementia device research
A start-up firm says its small box can help sufferers retain independence and ease relatives' minds.
www.bbc.co.uk
Dementia device seeks 100 people for further trials. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Peter Hall, Ingmar Weber, Anne Kavanagh , and 33 more Peter Hall, Ingmar Weber, Anne Kavanagh, Gunnar Luderer, Eszter Hargittai, Darren R. Gröcke, Michael T. Meyer, Eoin Brodie, James R. Wilson, Christopher J. Fariss, Julio Mayol, Ana Isabel, Alex Singleton, Ari Hyytinen, Tim Moore, Stephanie E. Hampton, Siân E. Halcrow, Luigina Ciolfi, Zhonghua Zheng, Victoria Tischler, Sonja Utz, Jonathan Webber, Daniel Wilson, Guy J. Curtis, Ana Isabel Canhoto, Robert Marten, Andreas Theodorou, Ross D. Silverman, Claire L. Niedzwiedz, Martín Savransky, Maurizio Callari, Alysia Blackham, Samuel Gerald Collins, Laura Pérez Ortiz, Pekka Mertala, Katy Jordan
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· Nov 18
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