Artefacts, routines, and co-production: a pioneering case of artificial intelligence-based health services in Argentina

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article presents innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-based health services as a co-production process between actors and digital artefacts that increase automation and augmentative routine dynamics. The co-production process is analysed from the routine dynamics and contributions of science and technology studies and complexity theory. An in-depth single case of co-production based on AI is analysed to illustrate the innovation process at the micro level. The analysis reveals four findings: (1) innovation in services based on AI-technological solutions emerges from sociotechnical assemblages enacted by actors, artefacts, and routine dynamics; (2) technological solutions based on AI are emergent properties; (3) co-production of technological solutions based on AI are contextualised on situated action and embedded in a cognitive distribution system that leads to automated and augmentative routine dynamics; and (4) the adoption of standardised AI-based technological solutions transforms institutional arrangements. Implications for policymakers and future research agendas are also outlined.