What is the Intelligent Futures (IF) Lab?

The Intelligent Futures Lab (IF Lab) is an interdisciplinary, expert research group at the University of Oregon dedicated to understanding how emerging technologies are transforming work, organizations, and systems of governance. We study how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and related digital technologies are reshaping coordination, authority, and value creation, with particular attention to the human consequences of these shifts.

How do I get involved?

Participation is open to students of all disciplines, faculty, and industry partners. Whether you’re technical (engineering, CS, data science) or non-technical (business, law, communications), there are opportunities to contribute. Undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral candidates are all encouraged to get involved. For inquiries, reach out to us at iflab@uoregon.edu.

Can I donate and support the IF Lab’s research?

Yes! Donations help fund student research assistantships, conference travel, equipment, and open-access publication costs. To contribute, please contact us at iflab@uoregon.edu and we can connect you with the appropriate University of Oregon giving channel.

IF Lab | University of Oregon

University of Oregon

Advancinghuman-centricityinorganizations.

Our Focus

Decentralized Governance

Investigating how blockchain and distributed systems enable transparent and community-driven governance. Research emphasizes smart contracts, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and new models of collective decision-making.

Algorithmic Organizing

Exploring the development of AI agents that autonomously reason, adapt, and interact with their organizational environments. Research focuses on advancing decision-making, autonomy, and ethical considerations in agent-driven systems.

Human-AI Interaction

Studying the dynamics of collaboration between humans and AI, with a focus on usability, trust, and ethical implications. Research covers how AI systems can be designed for meaningful human engagement.

Digital Assets

Examining the impact of blockchain technology in hierarchical organizations. Research explores selective tokenization and strategies for real-world business adoption and scalability.

Our Focus

Four interconnected areas where emerging technology meets organizational change.

Decentralized Governance

Algorithmic Organizing

Human-AI Interaction

Digital Assets

Examining the impact of blockchain technology in hierarchical organizations. Research explores selective tokenization and strategies for real-world business adoption and scalability.

Decentralized Governance

Algorithmic Organizing

Human-AI Interaction

Examining the impact of blockchain technology in hierarchical organizations. Research explores selective tokenization and strategies for real-world business adoption and scalability.

Digital Assets

Lab in Action

Conferences, publications, press features — see what we've been up to.

Panel discussion at Midwest Blockchain Conference 2025

Lab in Action

Conferences, publications, press features — see what we've been up to.

IF Lab researchers at Midwest Blockchain Conference 2025

Stand With Crypto

Read on X

Bloomberg

Venture Capitalists Take Crypto Back to School in New Courtship

ft. Cameron Coleman, IF Lab Affiliate

Read Article

Meet the Team

Featured Publications

Cover page of "Humans and technology: Forms of conjoined agency in organizations"

2021

Academy of Management Review

Humans and technology: Forms of conjoined agency in organizations

Alex Murray, Jen Rhymer, and David Sirmon

Cover page of "Navigating the challenges of generative technologies: Proposing the integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain"

2024

Business Horizons

Navigating the challenges of generative technologies: Proposing the integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain

Jordan Brewer, Dhru Patel, Dennie Kim, and Alex Murray

Cover page of "The promise of a decentralized internet: What is Web3 and how can firms prepare?"

2023

Business Horizons

The promise of a decentralized internet: What is Web3 and how can firms prepare?

Alex Murray, Dennie Kim, and Jordan Combs

View All Publications

From the Blog

All posts

Apr 14, 2026 · 16 min read

A B.I.T.O Model to Bring Start-ups, Creators, and Builders into the IF LAB

by Dhru Patel

Mar 17, 2026 · 9 min read

Building at What Cost? Unpacking the Infrastructure Ambitions of America’s AI Action Plan

Mar 16, 2026 · 7 min read

Benchmarking Qwen AI Agents Against a Frontier Model

Mar 8, 2026 · 10 min read

Rent vs. Own: AI Agents

Feb 25, 2026 · 13 min read

Build In The Open (B.I.T.O)

FAQ

: The Intelligent Futures Lab (IF Lab) is an interdisciplinary, expert research group at the University of Oregon dedicated to understanding how emerging technologies are transforming work, organizations, and systems of governance. We study how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and related digital technologies are reshaping coordination, authority, and value creation, with particular attention to the human consequences of these shifts.
: Participation is open to students of all disciplines, faculty, and industry partners. Whether you’re technical (engineering, CS, data science) or non-technical (business, law, communications), there are opportunities to contribute. Undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral candidates are all encouraged to get involved. For inquiries, reach out to us at iflab@uoregon.edu.
: Yes! Donations help fund student research assistantships, conference travel, equipment, and open-access publication costs. To contribute, please contact us at iflab@uoregon.edu and we can connect you with the appropriate University of Oregon giving channel.

FAQ

Common questions about the lab, our research, and how to get involved.

: The Intelligent Futures Lab (IF Lab) is an interdisciplinary, expert research group at the University of Oregon dedicated to understanding how emerging technologies are transforming work, organizations, and systems of governance. We study how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and related digital technologies are reshaping coordination, authority, and value creation, with particular attention to the human consequences of these shifts.
: Participation is open to students of all disciplines, faculty, and industry partners. Whether you’re technical (engineering, CS, data science) or non-technical (business, law, communications), there are opportunities to contribute. Undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral candidates are all encouraged to get involved. For inquiries, reach out to us at iflab@uoregon.edu.
: Yes! Donations help fund student research assistantships, conference travel, equipment, and open-access publication costs. To contribute, please contact us at iflab@uoregon.edu and we can connect you with the appropriate University of Oregon giving channel.

Get Involved

We're looking for curious, motivated students interested in AI, blockchain, and the future of work. Reach out to learn about open positions, research opportunities, and how to contribute.

Reach Out Meet the Team