Xilan Zhang

I study how AI changes the knowledge and skills people need to pursue economic opportunities, especially in emerging economies. Through field and digital experiments, I examine how entrepreneurs use AI to learn and develop business ideas, and how people on digital platforms respond to AI-generated content (AIGC). I’m fortunate to be advised by Chuck Eesley and Kathleen M. Eisenhardt. My research is published in the Academy of Management Journal and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal.

I am a PhD student in Management Science & Engineering at Stanford University, where I am also pursuing a PhD minor in Computer Science. I am affiliated with the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. Before Stanford, I earned my bachelor’s degree at Tsinghua University and worked as a research professional in economics at the University of Chicago. I also worked at Z.ai (Zhipu AI).

My name is pronounced “Ci-lan”. (no “-tro”)