Stakeholder roles in artificial intelligence projects

Abstract

Algorithmic decision-making implemented through artificial intelligence (AI) projects is augmenting or replacing human decision-making across numerous industries. Although AI systems may impact individuals and society in life-and-death situations, project organizations or plans may ignore the concerns of the passive stakeholders. This research describes the components, lifecycle, and characteristics of AI projects. It employs stakeholder theory and a systematic literature review with thematic analysis to identify and classify individuals, groups, and organizations into six stakeholder project roles. It configures the stakeholder salience model with a harm attribute to identify passive stakeholders—individuals affected by AI systems but powerless to affect the project—and their nexus to the project. The study contributes a novel method for identifying passive stakeholders and highlights the need to engage developers, operators, and representatives of passive stakeholders to achieve moral, ethical, and sustainable development.