Robot Ethics and the Innovation Economy
Robot Ethics and the Innovation Economy

Author: Jon-Arild Johannessen

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-06-16

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 1000398595

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This book provides an authoritative resource on the topic of intelligent robots, artificial intelligence and the ethical implications of these revolutionary innovations. It examines the moral and ethical problems that arise in relation to the development, design and use of intelligent robots, which are capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous decision-making. These problems might relate, for example, to medical robots, driverless cars, intelligent military drones, pedagogical robots, police robots, legal robots and many others. The main question addressed in this book is how we can understand, explain and apply the concept of ethics in relation to intelligent robots and artificial intelligence. In each chapter, the author examines a different aspect of this question. The author also questions how we can ensure that intelligent robots are of service to humans and under what conditions intelligent robots could become more ethical than humans. The book employs an original approach to examining this cutting-edge research question, combining different research areas, and offers a wealth of practical relevance and real-world examples, illustrated through vivid case studies. With its jargon free approach and a dedicated chapter on relevant concepts at the end, this book is also accessible to readers without prior knowledge on intelligent robots and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By providing a general account of this debate, and of the consequences of the innovations resulting from these trends, the book serves as an important contribution to the discussion and will find a natural readership among scholars and students of the innovation economy and those concerned with the ethical considerations arising in the wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

China's Innovation Economy
China's Innovation Economy

Author: Jon-Arild Johannessen

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-09-30

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 1000454827

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Two trends will have more influence than anything else on the world’s future political and economic situation: the development of artificial intelligence and the emergence of China as a competitor to the United States on the international stage. This book is about the emerging innovation economy. It uses systems theory and evolutionary economics as a theoretical point of departure and explains why the focal point of the geopolitical stage is moving away from the alliance between the United States and Europe, and towards an alliance between China, the 14 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries, the countries along the new silk road, and Europe. The book argues that the globalization strategy of neoliberalism laid the foundation for the Chinese economic engine. Whereas the old globalization was driven by cost differences generally, and wage costs specifically, the new globalization is driven by divergence in competence in general, and technological competence in particular, and China’s primary goal is to develop artificial intelligence and intelligent robots. Further, the book posits that the interactions between the climate crisis and the new technology will change production, distribution and the creation of profits, both in China and more widely in the global innovation economy. The book develops a structure to describe, analyze and explain the Chinese innovation economy and contributes to the discussion regarding technological developments in China. The book is written for readers who are oriented towards the new globalization that is emerging in the innovation economy and the factors driving China's economic growth.

The Future of Work
The Future of Work

Author: Darrell M. West

Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Published: 2018-05-15

Total Pages: 223

ISBN-13: 0815732945

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Looking for ways to handle the transition to a digital economy Robots, artificial intelligence, and driverless cars are no longer things of the distant future. They are with us today and will become increasingly common in coming years, along with virtual reality and digital personal assistants. As these tools advance deeper into everyday use, they raise the question—how will they transform society, the economy, and politics? If companies need fewer workers due to automation and robotics, what happens to those who once held those jobs and don't have the skills for new jobs? And since many social benefits are delivered through jobs, how are people outside the workforce for a lengthy period of time going to earn a living and get health care and social benefits? Looking past today's headlines, political scientist and cultural observer Darrell M. West argues that society needs to rethink the concept of jobs, reconfigure the social contract, move toward a system of lifetime learning, and develop a new kind of politics that can deal with economic dislocations. With the U.S. governance system in shambles because of political polarization and hyper-partisanship, dealing creatively with the transition to a fully digital economy will vex political leaders and complicate the adoption of remedies that could ease the transition pain. It is imperative that we make major adjustments in how we think about work and the social contract in order to prevent society from spiraling out of control. This book presents a number of proposals to help people deal with the transition from an industrial to a digital economy. We must broaden the concept of employment to include volunteering and parenting and pay greater attention to the opportunities for leisure time. New forms of identity will be possible when the "job" no longer defines people's sense of personal meaning, and they engage in a broader range of activities. Workers will need help throughout their lifetimes to acquire new skills and develop new job capabilities. Political reforms will be necessary to reduce polarization and restore civility so there can be open and healthy debate about where responsibility lies for economic well-being. This book is an important contribution to a discussion about tomorrow—one that needs to take place today.

Ethics in Human-like Robots
Ethics in Human-like Robots

Author: Kamil Mamak

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-11-25

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1040276857

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The idea of creating artificial humans can be found at the beginning of the human culture. Ancient myths contain the stories of artificial humans brought to life by gods. The word robot originates from a play that was about artificial humans made from artificial flesh that aims to serve real humans. With advancements in robotics, the materialization of this idea is more real than ever before. We are witnessing attempts to create humanoid robots that might be deployed in many spheres of our life - policing, healthcare, and even for love and sex. The book focuses on the ethical issues of human likeness of robots and human tendency to anthropomorphize. It is built on the assumption that design choices are not neutral, and they need to be discussed to align robots with human values. With robots operating in the physical world, they bring ideas and risks that should be addressed before widespread deployment. The book reviews specific issues and provides suggestions and recommendations for improving robots to serve humans better. It draws on literature from Human-Robot Interactions, ethics of AI and robotics, and the philosophy of technology.

Feudal Capitalism and the Innovation Economy
Feudal Capitalism and the Innovation Economy

Author: Jon-Arild Johannessen

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-06-05

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1000886239

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In feudal society, it was the few at the top who laid the ground for what was produced, how it was produced and how it was distributed. Freedom was restricted, and people were kept in their place by institutional structures. In capitalism, the focus is on free markets, free trade, and a personal freedom, where self-interest is assumed to lead to progress for the collective good. In today’s world, there is a move towards algorithmic capitalism at the micro-level, platform capitalism at the meso-level, and feudal capitalism at the macro-level. This is the new and innovative concept developed in this book. The author argues that feudal capitalism is distinct but linked to the innovation economy, and represents an interconnection between the organization of feudal society and central aspects of capitalism. Additionally, he asserts that the balance between feudal capitalism and a reinvented, sustainable capitalism based on the innovation economy, can help restore the moral compass lost in the evolution of global capitalism. The key argument of the book is that even if we see a development towards feudal capitalism, a more just and moral capitalism can be restored through various social mechanisms such as changes in the institutional framework, the development of a balanced form of globalization and re-establishing social cohesion and equality of opportunity. Further, the book offers policy interventions to support this idea. The book will find an audience among scholars and researchers of political economy, political theory, economic history, management, AI and ethics, philosophy and automation, inequality and equality of opportunity

The Political Economy of Robots
The Political Economy of Robots

Author: Ryan Kiggins

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-09-16

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 3319514660

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This collection examines implications of technological automation to global prosperity and peace. Focusing on robots, information communication technologies, and other automation technologies, it offers brief interventions that assess how automation may alter extant political, social, and economic institutions, norms, and practices that comprise the global political economy. In doing so, this collection deals directly with such issues as automated production, trade, war, state sanctioned robot violence, financial speculation, transnational crime, and policy decision making. This interdisciplinary volume will appeal to students, scholars and practitioners grappling with political, economic, and social problems that arise from rapid technological change that automates the prospects for human prosperity and peace.

Industrial Revolution 4.0
Industrial Revolution 4.0

Author: Stanisław Mazur

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-09-28

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 1000646114

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The radical transformations to which the economy and society have been subjected for decades have gained momentum in recent years, not least because of the coronavirus pandemic, the consequences of which are yet to be fully understood. As a result, certain economic models and business practices are becoming less sustainable. One of the reasons for this is the rapid advance of Revolution 4.0. The issues raised in this book are central to understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its overwhelming impact on emerging socio-economic relations. The book addresses the future and flexibility of the labour market in the era of digital transformation; issues related to the emergence of new patterns of production and the distribution of public services. It examines the impact of Revolution 4.0 on the global business services sector and business project management models, in times of increasing complexity. The book covers a broad spectrum of concerns associated with Industry 4.0, such as social, economic, technological, and environmental, making it a comprehensive resource offering state-of-the-art knowledge. Further, it includes a discussion on the perspectives for the development of Revolution 4.0 in the context of the post-pandemic world. This book skillfully combines theoretical considerations with practical applications, offering a valuable, engaging and accessible resource for researchers, scholars, students, policymakers, public decision-makers, and businesspeople alike.

The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems
The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems

Author: Meelis Kitsing

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-08-18

Total Pages: 123

ISBN-13: 1000428257

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This book connects political economy perspectives with scenario planning for mapping out future trajectories of digital ecosystems. The focus is purposefully on digital ecosystems as it encompasses economic, political and social contexts on a global, national and local level. The diversity of political economy approaches allows the author to explore alternative meanings of digital ecosystem development, which is particularly useful for envisioning alternative futures. Often visions about the future of digital ecosystems suffer from a lack of imagination and confirmation bias which is favorable to the extrapolation of current trends. A wide range of political economy perspectives applied through positivist theorizing in this book shows different interpretations of developments in digital ecosystems. Scenario planning teams around the world have applied a collective imagination to show how future trajectories can be radically different from the current trends. The book outlines meta-scenarios for alternative futures of the political economy of digital ecosystems by reviewing and synthesizing the work of foresight teams. These meta-scenarios served as insights for developing four scenarios for European digital ecosystems through the workshops with high-level executives and experts. The scenarios identified the nature of EU cooperation and the development of digital infrastructure as key drivers. These four scenarios developed in the workshops are further operationalized in a specific context by exploring the implications for Estonia as well as for Chinese investments in European platforms. This exercise shows how scenarios of digital ecosystems can be used for stress-testing decisions and strategies. Decision-makers, students, scholars and other stakeholders in a wide range of industries ranging from academia to ride-sharing can use the scenarios for reframing different development trajectories and future-proofing their strategies. The scenarios can be further developed and modified for specific purposes and contexts as they are not written in stone.

The Economics of Digital Transformation
The Economics of Digital Transformation

Author: Katarzyna Śledziewska

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-08-01

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 1000423352

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The unprecedented Covid-19 crisis revealed the scale and scope of a new type of economy taking shape in front of our very eyes: the digital economy. This book presents a concise theoretical and conceptual framework for a more nuanced analysis of the economic and sociological impacts of the technological disruption that is taking place in the markets of goods and services, labour markets, and the global economy more generally. This interdisciplinary work is a must for researchers and students from economics, business, and other social science majors who seek an overview of the main digital economy concepts and research. Its down-to-earth approach and communicative style will also speak to businesses practitioners who want to understand the ongoing digital disruption of the market rules and emergence of the new digital business models. The book refers to academic insights from economics and sociology while giving numerous empirical examples drawn from basic and applied research and business. It addresses several burning issues: how are digital processes transforming traditional business models? Does intelligent automation threaten our jobs? Are we reaching the end of globalisation as we know it? How can we best prepare ourselves and our children for the digitally transformed world? The book will help the reader gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the digital transformation, something that is essential in order to not only reap the plentiful opportunities being created by the digital economy but also to avoid its many pitfalls. Chapters 1, 3 and 5 of this book are available for free in PDF format as Open Access from the individual product page at www.routledge.com. They have been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

The Co-creative University
The Co-creative University

Author: Łukasz Mamica

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-06-29

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1000419002

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The co-creative university has become the main driver of social and economic development stimulating internal (students and academics) and external creativity (companies and institutional environment) as well as cooperation in various areas (e.g. applied graduation theses, research projects, lifelong learning). Intended as a contribution to a better understanding of how universities create value in numerous areas, this book discusses the determinants of creativity and ways of stimulating it with a special focus on approaches and practical solutions relevant to teaching. Examples include problem-oriented student theses, which represent a successful combination of creativity with practical knowledge. Based on the findings of international surveys of students, the author offers an in-depth analysis of the differences between what they expect from universities and the degree to which their expectations are met. Comparing students’ opinions with those of employees of international corporations (working graduates) permitted the author to test the actual utility of selected aspects of university education. Regrettably, both groups of respondents gave low ratings to support for developing creativity, which should serve as a warning sign and inform future reforms at this level of education. This book is primarily targeted to those involved in education, policy-making, and socio-economic development. It provides a rich source of information for university managers on how to better fulfil their missions based on the idea of co-creativity. It also suggests how to improve the effectiveness of research and education in order to ensure that both can better respond to current development challenges.