Throughout human history, the acceleration of digital technologies is certainly unprecedented. No previous innovation has caused such a profound and widespread alteration of our modern living habits in a comparatively short time frame. Although the advancements of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) facilitate economic growth and are oftentimeslabeled as a panacea for solving the world’s most urgent problems, more than one-third of the world’s population remains with no access to the digital world and is thus exposed to a serious risk of falling even further behind. Modern technologies have several shortcomings beyond the challenges related to equal access and utilization opportunities, as we frequently fail to correctly anticipate the unintended consequences of their use, not only for the individual users, but for our planet, humanity, and communities. To understand these implications, this thesis analyzesexisting frameworks and concept from the literature at the intersection of digitalization and sustainability. Drawing upon the identified scientific foundation and collected data, diverse use cases of AI and their desired implications are identified to subsequently juxtapose theseimplications with the unintended consequences on the micro-, meso- and macro-level. Based on each use case, the respective consequences in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are illuminated, thereby closing a previously identified gap in research. The results of this work are based on scientific literature and an extensive case study and thematic analysis on AI grounded on 61 Financial Times articles published between 2017 and 2022.
Date of Award | 20 Oct 2022 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | René Bohnsack (Supervisor) |
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- Digital technologies
- Artificial intelligence
- AI
- Sustainability
- Sustainable development goals
- SDGs
- Unintended sonsequences
- Individual effects
- Firm effects
- Societal effects
- Mestrado em Gestão e Administração de Empresas
Digital technologies: a panacea or a double-edged sword? Understanding the consequences of artificial intelligence for individuals, firms and society
Schoppe, L. L. (Student). 20 Oct 2022
Student thesis: Master's Thesis