Emerging technology for economic competitiveness or societal challenges? Framing purpose in Artificial Intelligence policy

Inga Ulnicane

doi:10.1007/s43508-022-00049-8

Emerging technology for economic competitiveness or societal challenges? Framing purpose in Artificial Intelligence policy

Inga Ulnicane^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study examines the policy discussions surrounding the purpose of the development and use of an emerging technology. It applies the two stylized technology policy frames of economic growth and societal challenges to analyse framing of one of the key emerging technologies today—Artificial Intelligence (AI). It demonstrates that recent AI policy documents include both—economic growth as well as societal challenges—frames. While AI is a novel technology, its recent policy builds on traditional ideas about the role of technology in facilitating economic growth and competitiveness supported by well-known measures such as investment in research and highly skilled workforce. Additionally, AI policy draws on more recent frame on the contribution of technology to addressing societal challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals but presents AI as a technological solution to complex societal issues. While some interest in addressing both economic and social objectives in AI policy can be observed, the policy documents remain silent about their compatibility.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	326-345
Number of pages	20
Journal	Global Public Policy and Governance
Volume	2
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s43508-022-00049-8
Publication status	Published - 19 Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements:
This study has benefitted from the feedback on earlier versions presented virtually in June 2022 at the workshop for the special issue Global Governance of Emerging Technologies (organized by Fudan University, China) and at the Global Transformations and Governance Challenges conference (organized by Leiden University, the Netherlands). This research has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Grant Agreement No.945539 (HBP SGA3).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence
Competitiveness
Economic growth
Framing
Grand challenges
Policy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Political Science and International Relations
Public Administration

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s43508-022-00049-8Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

UlnicaneI2022EmergingFinal published version, 663 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examines the policy discussions surrounding the purpose of the development and use of an emerging technology. It applies the two stylized technology policy frames of economic growth and societal challenges to analyse framing of one of the key emerging technologies today—Artificial Intelligence (AI). It demonstrates that recent AI policy documents include both—economic growth as well as societal challenges—frames. While AI is a novel technology, its recent policy builds on traditional ideas about the role of technology in facilitating economic growth and competitiveness supported by well-known measures such as investment in research and highly skilled workforce. Additionally, AI policy draws on more recent frame on the contribution of technology to addressing societal challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals but presents AI as a technological solution to complex societal issues. While some interest in addressing both economic and social objectives in AI policy can be observed, the policy documents remain silent about their compatibility.",

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Emerging technology for economic competitiveness or societal challenges? Framing purpose in Artificial Intelligence policy

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this