Social Responsibility, Technology and AI: Volume 23

Human society is going through an interesting period in terms of the challenges it faces. The most interesting problems are environmental problems. In support of protection of the environment in which we live, we must find efficient and clean (ecological) solutions, at the same time, for the materials and technologies that are the basis of the goods production. In this context, the problem of means of transport, in general, and land road transport, in particular, will remain one whose solution will probably mark multiple stages in the attempt to abandon fossil fuels. Even if this problem will be solved, the travel routes – roadways – represent an additional challenge in terms of construction materials and technologies but also in terms of maintenance and rehabilitation technologies. In the context of Industry 4.0, the concerns in the field of road execution and repair are more and more obviously aimed at elements of the circular economy. Solutions are sought and experimented for: reuse of degraded asphalt material, incorporating reused/reusable materials into the asphalt mixtures and the implementation of ecological execution technologies. In this work, it is intended to carry out an analysis regarding the technical and technological solutions implemented or in the proposal/experiment stage that respond to the desired "Sustainable technologies for road maintenance and rehabilitation".

This chapter explains the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) powered by big data in technology and its contribution in knowledge-based marketing in B2B and its impact on rational decision-making in B2B marketing that affects business performance. This chapter is literature review prepared by compiling and reviewing previous literature, studies, articles, books and other sources related to the contribution of big data-enabled AI to B2B marketing. According to the information analysed, the findings show that big data supported by AI plays a significant role in creating user knowledge, external knowledge and customer knowledge, all of which are factors that significantly influence the ability of business-to-business marketers to make rational decisions that affect the performance of their companies. This chapter explains to them the phenomena of AI powered by big data and its effect on B2B marketing rational decision that will enhance company performance and its contribution on knowledge-based marketing in B2B. This chapter contributes to understanding main functions and interactions of AI system powered by big data and how such a system helps in B2B marketing by generating knowledge about customers, users and markets.

This study delves into the interrelationships between business analytics (BA), strategic foresight (SF) and organisational resilience (OR) based on the systems theory. The research model was evaluated using Smart PLS 2.0. We found that both BA and SF have positive impacts on OR, explaining 32% of the change in OR. Additionally, BA was shown to have a positive effect on SF. We also discovered that BA partially mediates the relationship between SF and OR. However, no significant mediating effect was found in the relation of BA on OR through SF. These findings reveal the important role BA and SF play in enhancing OR, highlighting the mediating role of BA in the relationship between SF and OR. This research marks a significant advancement in the literature, being the first to establish this unique mediation effect and opens the way for future longitudinal research to validate and expand these findings.

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry has been transformed by the increasing adoption of existing and emerging technologies of Industry 4.0, leading to the concept of Construction 4.0. However, the AEC industry is falling behind in comparison to other industries. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of digital transformation within the Construction 4.0 framework and explore the uses and challenges associated with adopting the most prominent digital technologies. This study is a literature-based exploration of published works to evaluate knowledge gaps and comprehend the Construction 4.0 concept in the context of the AEC industry. The results present a set of possible uses of 10 promising technologies in Construction 4.0 along with challenges that hinder its adoption. These are categorised as technical, legal, financial, organisational, industry and data security barriers. This research is limited to several promising technologies. Future studies should focus on rapidly developing technologies and finding better solutions for implementation. Besides increasing the awareness of practitioners, policymakers and clients towards Construction 4.0 technologies, it might assist them in making decisions on selecting and implementing key technologies. This chapter contributes to the literature by providing an updated and inclusive review that focuses on the uses and challenges of 10 trending technologies in the specific context of Construction 4.0. Therefore, the findings of this study provide a basis for different actors in the AEC industry to accelerate digital transformation and pave the way for future research.

In developing countries, rapid industrial growth frequently results in companies with high pollution levels, which in turn exhibit characteristics such as elevated emissions, increased energy consumption and overcapacity. In order to promote sustainable development among these heavily polluting firms, it is essential to implement a system of incentives and penalties that encourages environmentally responsible behaviour. China's environmental protection tax has replaced the previous pollution discharge fee (PDF) system. This tax aims to guide enterprises towards continuous adjustments and improvements in their production methods, increased investments in green technology, adoption of environmentally friendly production methods, reduced pollutant emissions and promotion of high-quality development. This chapter analyses how China's Environmental Protection Tax Law, enforced in 2018, affects the sustainable development capabilities of A-share listed companies in China. We utilise a difference-in-differences (DiD) model and measure total factor productivity (TFP) to quantify the impact of the tax law on these enterprises. TFP is a key indicator used to measure the effectiveness of resources utilised by enterprises in the production process. Our empirical analysis provides compelling evidence that the implementation of environmental protection taxes has significantly enhanced the TFP of heavily polluting enterprises. Importantly, the impact of these taxes is more pronounced for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in comparison to their private counterparts in this sector. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers in developing countries as they consider the design of environmental protection tax systems and supportive measures to promote sustainable development of companies with significant environmental impacts.

Over the course of the last 10 years, companies involved in the supply chain have been confronted with a myriad of issues, the most of which can be traced back to modifications in the external environment, such as technical considerations. In addition to the issues that were already present, the recent pandemic generated a new set of challenges for supply chain companies, which had a direct impact on the continuity and sustainability of their businesses. By looking at the ways in which technology is being used to improve the long-term viability of supply chain organisations, this study takes into consideration the changes that were implemented in response to the pandemic, particularly in the food and drink industry. This study was conducted based on a critical literature assessment, and it asks for additional supply chain management research to be conducted in this field. Several ideas have been discussed to better understand the role of technology in the sector. The findings of the study make it clear that the benefits of technological sustainability and ease of use go a long way towards promoting the use of technology and enabling companies to effectively utilise technology within supply chain companies. The study adds to the literature as it integrates technology with the supply chain in the food and beverage sector, a path that is not well researched in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The current relationship between humans and nature is complex and tense. Overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss present the main challenges for modern society. In particular, the issue of climate change is being intensely debated, and the interest in protecting natural resources by adopting sustainable practices is growing. Therefore, this chapter examines a brief history and concept of climate change, reviewing relevant theories and authors from Svante Arrhenius and Guy Stewart Callendar to Charles David Keeling and Mikhail Budyko. This chapter explores the first measurements and warnings regarding climate crisis and reviews international treaties and policy development at local, national and global levels. Furthermore, adverse consequences of the climate crisis are described, and ecologism, eco-imperialism and climate change denialism are explained.

This chapter aims to identify the important role of using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology in water distribution systems. It focuses on the features of this technology and how it facilitates data collection, communications, system control, condition monitoring, etc. It shows how these features can provide better system understanding and securely enable reliable and timely data. Additionally, IoT offers advanced solutions in smart metering and leak detection, aiding water sustainability and conservation measures by reducing water losses. Through the literature, the features and investment opportunities of IoT are discussed. This study illustrates the prospect, applicability, benefits, and adaptability of IoT to meet the requirements of most industries. Conclusively, the literature reviewed indicate that the deployment of IoT in the water industry is financially justified as it increases the utility's revenue by connecting customers, minimizing losses and enabling timely monitoring. IoT technologies are found in every industry nowadays, yet it is considered relatively new in the power and water supply sectors. However, the findings and research conducted in this field confirmed the financial return and capabilities it grants, enriching such industries to prosper and keep up with the uprising limited natural resources crisis through technological advancement. This study presents the benefits of implementing IoT in water supply networks, by discussing its features, cost of implementation, return on investment and the need for such advancements to sustain our natural resources.

Artificial intelligence (AI) carries the risk of widening gender inequalities due to the digital divide, while simultaneously promising to equalise the situation for women through the gender digital dividend. The conflicting findings from previous studies justify the need to investigate the gendered aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) diffusion. Specifically, the aim of this chapter is to understand the relationship between female entrepreneurship and the adoption of AI technologies within business contexts at the macroeconomic level. To achieve this, cluster analyses are conducted for the European Union (EU) countries. The results indicate an inverted U-shaped pattern in the relationship between the level of female entrepreneurship and the diffusion of AI technology in business. In the EU countries belonging to clusters with the highest level of AI diffusion, female entrepreneurship is at a moderate level, while in the EU countries with the lowest level of intelligent transformation, both extremes are observed: the highest and the lowest levels of female entrepreneurship. The variety of patterns in female entrepreneurship and AI technology spread in the EU countries implies the complex and multidimensional nature of the interrelationship, and, thus, it indicates the need for diverse, country-specific policies and practices to reach the intelligent transformation with respect to more equal society.

This chapter overviews and briefly presents the literature concerning women and science from the field of feminist science studies (FSS). A major and time-consuming challenge encountered during the process of this review was organising the highly varied subtopics into meaningful categories. For the sake of easy understanding, we begin the study by describing the field of science and technology study (STS) and then we move on to discuss the origin of FSS and major strands of intersection between science and feminist epistemology.

Small islands are particularly vulnerable to environmental impacts, as multiple environmental as well as socio-economic changes are impacting their local communities and especially the most vulnerable segments of their population. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly viewed as an opportunity for small islands to mitigate and adapt to climate change. ICT may help to monitor short-term and long-term climate trends, raise awareness, help protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions. Though the ICT sector has been recognised as crucial in ensuring sustainable development, it is also important to address its potential adverse impacts like energy consumption, electronic waste generation and digital inequality among others. The ICT-environment link is thus rather complex. While there is extensive literature on the ICT-climate change nexus, the evidence remains mixed. The evidence on small island economies is rather scant. The objective of this chapter is to investigate into the ICT and environment linkage for small islands taking on board the specificities of island economies. The Panel Vector Error Correction Model (PVECM) is used on 38 small islands over a period 2000–2020, and the long-run results show that higher use of ICT has resulted in lower carbon emissions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered technologies are revolutionising the landscape of education, ushering in a myriad of possibilities and challenges. This article delves into the dual nature of AI-driven tools in education, spotlighting pivotal advancements like automated grading, personalised learning algorithms, online monitoring, content filtering, AI-based learning tools, Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) and standardised testing (ST) platforms. Ultimately, the examination reveals a spectrum of advantages, risks and considerations associated with AI-driven educational applications. Employing the PRISMA protocol, this study systematically reviews peer-reviewed literature concerning the implementation and ethical implications of AI in higher education. The analysis incorporates 36 scholarly articles, uncovering the entrepreneurial advantages of AI, such as tailored learning experiences, self-assessment opportunities, heightened efficiency, skill enhancement and reduced educational disparities. Concurrently, the research identifies potential hazards, including user profiling, plagiarism, academic integrity breaches and excessive reliance on technology that may hinder creative learning dynamics. Crucial concerns emerge, encompassing the possible devaluation of educators' roles, privacy issues inherent in personalised learning platforms and the intrusive nature of online surveillance. Additionally, the study highlights biases embedded within AI algorithms and apprehensions regarding job displacement within the academic community. To steer AI integration responsibly within higher education, the investigation explores ethical frameworks and models, offering pragmatic suggestions for institutions. Recommendations advocate for a balanced approach, emphasising judicious AI utilisation and the formulation of institutional policies. This chapter's distinctiveness lies in its innovative stance, striving to reconcile the technical and entrepreneurial benefits of AI applications with the preservation of creativity in higher education contexts.