Algorithms in the room: AI, representation, and decisions about sustainable futures

IF 10.9 1区管理学 Q1 ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL

Technovation Pub Date : 2025-07-03 DOI:10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103304

Stuart Mills , Henrik Skaug Sætra

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Abstract

This article considers the role of generative AI technologies, such as large language models (LLMs), in promoting the views of underrepresented groups. We are specifically concerned with the role AI could play in encouraging powerful decision-makers—often leading politicians and businesspeople in Western nations—to consider the perspectives of underrepresented groups when making decisions about sustainable development.

Some suggest generative AI could offer decision-makers perspectives they had previously not considered, leading to more equitable and innovative policy approaches, and supporting several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We critique this perspective. Groups may be underrepresented in sustainable development decision-making because of individual cognitive and organisational information-processing limitations (‘omitted, but not opposed’), and because of opposition which remains even if these limitations are overcome (‘opposed, whether omitted or not’). We outline how these ‘categories of omission’ shape the opportunities and risks created by generative AI in representative sustainability.

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房间里的算法：人工智能、表示和关于可持续未来的决策

本文考虑了生成式人工智能技术（如大型语言模型（llm））在促进代表性不足群体观点方面的作用。我们特别关注人工智能在鼓励强大的决策者——通常是西方国家的主要政治家和商人——在做出有关可持续发展的决策时考虑代表性不足的群体的观点方面可能发挥的作用。一些人认为，生成式人工智能可以为决策者提供他们以前没有考虑过的视角，从而导致更公平和创新的政策方法，并支持联合国的几个可持续发展目标（sdg）。我们批判这种观点。群体在可持续发展决策中的代表性可能不足，因为个人认知和组织信息处理的限制（“被忽略，但不反对”），以及即使克服了这些限制，反对意见仍然存在（“反对，无论是否被忽略”）。我们概述了这些“遗漏类别”如何塑造生成人工智能在代表性可持续性中创造的机会和风险。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Technovation 管理科学-工程：工业

CiteScore

15.10

自引率

11.20%

发文量

208

审稿时长

91 days

期刊介绍： The interdisciplinary journal Technovation covers various aspects of technological innovation, exploring processes, products, and social impacts. It examines innovation in both process and product realms, including social innovations like regulatory frameworks and non-economic benefits. Topics range from emerging trends and capital for development to managing technology-intensive ventures and innovation in organizations of different sizes. It also discusses organizational structures, investment strategies for science and technology enterprises, and the roles of technological innovators. Additionally, it addresses technology transfer between developing countries and innovation across enterprise, political, and economic systems.