17 // Mahdis Smith

How GenAI and AI-assisted Digital Clones Reshape Hybrid Autonomy, Decisions and Business Process Automation in Australian Workplaces

Griffith University

LinkedIn | ORCID

Mahdis Smith is an AI Adoption Strategist and doctoral candidate specialising in the organisational applications of AI. Her research investigates how AI technologies influence the sense of autonomy in task completion and decision-making within organisations. With a strong focus on maintaining critical thinking while driving innovation, her work explores the adoption journey of GenAI and AI-assisted digital clones among leaders and knowledge workers in Australia.

Drawing on a background in consultancy, Mahdis brings a multidisciplinary approach to understanding complex organisational dynamics. Her career spans roles in research, education, industry, and consultancy, with experience facilitating workshops and collaborating in projects within the public and private sectors.

At the time of our conversation, Mahdis was preparing for her PhD thesis submission at Griffith University. As AI is a hot topic for discussion in academia and other fields, we found ourselves unpacking her research from unexpected but interesting angles. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

This episode of The Knowledge Mill was recorded on the Nathan Campus of Griffith University in Brisbane on June 9, 2025.

Show Notes

Griffith University

OpenAI

ChatGPT

ResearchRabbit

NVivo

MAXQDA

Claude

Zoom Earnings Call Featuring AI Avatar of CEO Eric Yuan

5 Little Wardens: Bow Jackabow by Mahdis Smith

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The Knowledge Mill is a podcast about PhD researchers and their work. Each episode features a longform conversation with a PhD candidate, with a focus on how they found themselves doing a PhD and the research they’re undertaking.

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