Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Open Access)
Department
Colby College. Science, Technology and Society Program
Advisor(s)
Ashton Wesner
Second Advisor
Laura Saltz
Abstract
Society is currently living in an era known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), which is primarily defined by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which provide prediction capabilities for businesses across all industries. But how are small technology companies and startup businesses navigating the influx of future possibilities of AI? This thesis examines how governments and consulting firms portray the future possibilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Using Sheila Jasanoff’s concept of sociotechnical imaginaries, the research explores how these imaginaries shape AI narratives through primary documents like the Biden Administration's "Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights" and McKinsey & Company's "The Economic Potential of Generative AI." Discursive analysis of these two documents reveals the role of governments and consulting firms in promoting techno-optimistic views of AI. Additionally, interviews with a CEO from Silicon Valley and an associate from a startup demonstrate how these companies independently leverage AI to improve their operations. The findings suggest that while external narratives influence AI's perceived potential, startups play a crucial role in shaping their own AI futures.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sociotechnical Imaginaries, Technology, Startups, Industrial Revolution 4.0, Innovation
Recommended Citation
Barr, Evan, "The Fourth Industrial Paradigm: The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence as a Business Tool for Startups and Technology Companies" (2024). Honors Theses. Paper 1451.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1451
Included in
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Science and Technology Studies Commons, Technology and Innovation Commons