AI and Society: Navigating Policy, Ethics, and Innovation in a Transforming World

In recent years, the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on fostering new forms of entrepreneurship has become increasingly evident. Entrepreneurs worldwide are harnessing the capabilities of AI to develop innovative solutions and create businesses that address pressing challenges.

Despite the growing recognition of AI’s potential, there exists a crucial need to deepen understanding and awareness surrounding how individuals are leveraging AI to establish novel ventures. Many entrepreneurs are pioneering initiatives that deploy AI technologies to tackle complex problems. This challenge revolves around the imperative to explore, document, and comprehend the diverse ways in which AI is driving the emergence of new businesses, solving real-world problems, and reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape. It underscores the necessity for entrepreneurs, researchers, and the wider community to grasp the transformative role of AI in fostering innovation and enabling the creation of businesses dedicated to addressing societal issues. Addressing this challenge will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the synergy between AI and entrepreneurship, paving the way for informed and impactful ventures that leverage the full potential of AI technologies.

This book addresses the broader societal implications of AI, focusing on policy, education, and ethical considerations. It reviews national AI policies in Africa, explores AI-powered innovation in STEM education, and investigates the use of AI in fraudulent activities. It also discusses the integration of AI in the transport sector of developing countries, highlighting its potential to revolutionize infrastructure and services. In addition, it provides a holistic view of AI’s impact on society, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines, regulatory frameworks, and continuous learning to harness AI responsibly. In a comparative analysis, it presents an exploration into the landscape of top-rated AI freelancers across Europe, North America, and South America, focusing on the intersection of gender and professional success in this burgeoning sector. It concludes with a discussion on the role of AI in the future of accounting in emerging economies.

Sheena Lovia Boateng is a senior lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ghana Business School. Her research interests span artificial intelligence and marketing, gender and technology, influencer marketing, online pharmaceutical marketing, online relationship marketing, digital business, and electronic learning. Her research has been widely published.
Richard Boateng is a Professor in Information Systems at the University of Ghana Business School. He is a technology researcher who focuses on developing, communicating, protecting, promoting ideas and concepts into projects of commercial value and development impact. The AD Scientific Index (Alper-Doger Scientific Index) 2021 and 2022 ranked Prof. Richard Boateng as the number one (#1) Scholar in ICT for Development/E-business Research in Ghana and 9th in Africa. He was also ranked the number four (#4) Scholar in General Business and Management Research in Ghana and 24th in Africa in 2022. He is also the associate editor of the Information Technologies & International Development Journal and serves on the editorial board of the Information Development Journal. His research experience covers the artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, digital economy, cloud computing, e-learning, information, and communication technologies (ICT) for development, electronic governance, social media, electronic business, gender and technology, mobile commerce, and mobile health at the national, industrial, organisational and community levels. His research and project funds have been obtained from organizations including Mastercard Foundation, GIZ (German Development Agency, Ghana), World Wide Web Foundation (USA), Vodafone Group (Global/UK), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), International Development Research Centre (Canada), and the World Bank. On three occasions, Prof. Boateng has been invited to contribute to global reports on the digital economy. First, by the Renowned Economist, Diane Coyle for the Vodafone Global PLC.’s Socio-economic Impact of Mobiles (SIM) Report; second, by the World Wide Web Foundation for the 2019 Women’s Rights Online Survey; and third as a panelist at the 2022 UNCTAD Global eCommerce Week, speaking on The AfCFTA and Data Governance Frameworks in Africa.