Purpose Recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed project management by introducing new forms of human–machine collaboration. While prior research has focused mainly on expert users, limited evidence exists on how generative AI supports novice project managers in cognitively demanding tasks. This study investigates how AI can assist neophyte project managers in developing a project risk register, emphasizing its role as a cognitive and creative scaffold for structured risk identification process. Design/methodology/approach The research employs an experimental design involving master’s students in engineering management acting as novice project managers. Participants were randomly assigned to AI-assisted and non-AI conditions and tasked with compiling a project risk register for a real-world scenario. Independent experts evaluated the outputs through quantitative and qualitative criteria and results were analyzed using non-parametric statistics and discourse analysis. Findings AI-supported teams produced more structured and comprehensive outputs, especially in risk identification and monitoring, whereas non-AI teams demonstrated higher contextual sensitivity and stakeholder awareness. Differences between AI-assisted teams highlight the mediating role of prompt competence in determining the quality of AI-supported reasoning. Generative AI facilitated coherent and systematic outputs but tended to constrain creative originality. Originality/value This study provides one of the first experimental insights into how generative AI functions as a cognitive scaffold for novice project managers. It advances understanding of AI’s formative role in early-stage project reasoning and underscores the importance of AI literacy to ensure reflective and context-sensitive human–AI collaboration.
Pompei et al. (2026) studied this question.