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Cooperatives and the Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Critical View

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Elisabete Ramos

    (CeBER, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Ana Azevedo

    (CEOS—Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Deolinda Meira

    (CEOS—Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Mariana Curado Malta

    (CEOS—Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
    ALGORITMI Research Center/LASI, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

Abstract

Digital Transformation (DT) has become an important issue for organisations. It is proven that DT fuels Digital Innovation in organisations. It is well-known that technologies and practices such as distributed ledger technologies, open source, analytics, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) enhance DT. Among those technologies, AI provides tools to support decision-making and automatically decide. Cooperatives are organisations with a mutualistic scope and are characterised by having participatory cooperative governance due to the principle of democratic control by the members. In a context where DT is here to stay, where the dematerialisation of processes can bring significant advantages to any organisation, this article presents a critical reflection on the dangers of using AI technologies in cooperatives. We base this reflection on the Portuguese cooperative code. We emphasise that this code is not very different from the ones of other countries worldwide as they are all based on the Statement of Cooperative Identity defined by the International Cooperative Alliance. We understand that we cannot stop the entry of AI technologies into the cooperatives. Therefore, we present a framework for using AI technologies in cooperatives to avoid damaging the principles and values of this type of organisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Elisabete Ramos & Ana Azevedo & Deolinda Meira & Mariana Curado Malta, 2022. "Cooperatives and the Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Critical View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:329-:d:1014709
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Scopino,Gregory, 2020. "Algo Bots and the Law," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781316616536.
    2. Pietronudo, Maria Cristina & Croidieu, Grégoire & Schiavone, Francesco, 2022. "A solution looking for problems? A systematic literature review of the rationalizing influence of artificial intelligence on decision-making in innovation management," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Scopino,Gregory, 2020. "Algo Bots and the Law," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107164796.
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