Study: Generative AI Now Outperforms Average Humans on Creativity Tests

A massive new study published March 25, 2026 examined over 100,000 people and compared them with today's most advanced AI systems. The conclusion is surprising: generative AI now surpasses average human creativity on several standardized tests.

The study, the largest of its kind, used recognized creativity tests including the Divergent Associative Thinking (DAT) and Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). AI models consistently scored higher than the majority of human participants on measures of originality, flexibility, and the ability to generate unexpected associations.

This does not mean AI is more creative than the most creative humans. Top human scorers still outperform AI. But AI beating the average is a significant shift from earlier studies.

Implications for the workplace

The findings challenge the assumption that creative professions are safe from AI competition. Copywriting, ideation, marketing, and design are all areas where average human creativity has traditionally been considered sufficient.

For CIOs evaluating AI deployment in creative departments, the study provides empirical grounds to take the opportunities seriously. At the same time, researchers emphasize that human creativity is more than test scores. Context, empathy, and cultural grounding remain domains where humans lead.