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The AI techno-economic complex System: Worldwide landscape, thematic subdomains and technological collaborations

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  • Righi, Riccardo
  • Samoili, Sofia
  • López Cobo, Montserrat
  • Vázquez-Prada Baillet, Miguel
  • Cardona, Melisande
  • De Prato, Giuditta

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a major role in the new paradigm shift occurring across the technological landscape. After a series of alternate seasons starting in the 60s, AI is now experiencing a new spring. Nevertheless, although it is spreading throughout our economies and societies in multiple ways, the absence of standardised classifications prevents us from obtaining a measure of its pervasiveness. In addition, AI cannot be identified as part of a specific sector, but rather as a transversal technology because the fields in which it is applied do not have precise boundaries. In this work, we address the need for a deeper understanding of this complex phenomenon by investigating economic agents’ involvement in industrial activities aimed to supply AI-related goods and services, and AI-related R&D processes in the form of patents and publications. In order to conduct this extensive analysis, we use a complex systems approach through the agent-artifact space model, which identifies the core dimensions that should be considered. Therefore, by considering the geographic location of the involved agents and their organisation types (i.e., firms, governmental institutions, and research institutes), we (i) provide an overview of the worldwide presence of agents, (ii) investigate the patterns in which AI technological subdomains subsist and scatter in different parts of the system, and (iii) reveal the size, composition, and topology of the AI R&D collaboration network. Based on a unique data collection of multiple micro-based data sources and supported by a methodological framework for the analysis of techno-economic segments (TES), we capture the state of AI in the worldwide landscape in the period 2009–2018. As expected, we find that major roles are played by the US, China, and the EU28. Nevertheless, by measuring the system, we unveil elements that provide new, crucial information to support more conscious discussions in the process of policy design and implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Righi, Riccardo & Samoili, Sofia & López Cobo, Montserrat & Vázquez-Prada Baillet, Miguel & Cardona, Melisande & De Prato, Giuditta, 2020. "The AI techno-economic complex System: Worldwide landscape, thematic subdomains and technological collaborations," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:44:y:2020:i:6:s0308596120300355
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101943
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    3. Anabela Marques Santos & Francesco Molica & Carlos Torrecilla Salinas, 2024. "EU-funded investment in Artificial Intelligence and regional specialization," GEE Papers 181, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Jul 2024.
    4. Stephany, Fabian & Teutloff, Ole, 2024. "What is the price of a skill? The value of complementarity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    5. David Karpa & Torben Klarl & Michael Rochlitz, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Big Data," Papers 2111.00992, arXiv.org.
    6. Riccardo Righi & Montserrat Lopez-Cobo & Georgios Alaveras & Sofia Samoili & Melisande Cardona & Miguel Vazquez-Prada Baillet & Lukasz Ziemba & Giuditta De-Prato, 2020. "Academic Offer of Advanced Digital Skills in 2019-20. International Comparison. Focus on Artificial Intelligence, High Performance Computing, Cybersecurity and Data Science," JRC Research Reports JRC121680, Joint Research Centre.
    7. Mendonça, Sandro & Damásio, Bruno & Charlita de Freitas, Luciano & Oliveira, Luís & Cichy, Marcin & Nicita, António, 2022. "The rise of 5G technologies and systems: A quantitative analysis of knowledge production," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).
    8. Tachia Chin & Muhammad Waleed Ayub Ghouri & Jiyang Jin & Muhammet Deveci, 2024. "AI technologies affording the orchestration of ecosystem-based business models: the moderating role of AI knowledge spillover," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Duch-Brown, Néstor & Gomez-Herrera, Estrella & Mueller-Langer, Frank & Tolan, Songül, 2022. "Market power and artificial intelligence work on online labour markets," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(3).
    10. Rammer, Christian & Fernández, Gastón P. & Czarnitzki, Dirk, 2022. "Artificial intelligence and industrial innovation: Evidence from German firm-level data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    11. FABIANI Josefina & SOGUERO ESCUER Jorge & CALZA Elisa & DUNKER Cesare & DE PRATO Giuditta, 2024. "Strategic Insights into the EU's Advanced Manufacturing Industry: Trends and Comparative Analysis," JRC Research Reports JRC139092, Joint Research Centre.

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