The Role of AI in the Transition towards Sustainable Business Modelling

Based on the growing influence which companies have on environmental challenges, rising social inequality and economic development, the dialogue towards companies’ sustainable business model (SBM) transition has risen.

Largely enabled by the development and availability of big data in line with exponential computational power growth, AI is altering the way companies develop their business models. From machine learning, through autonomous systems, generative AI and big data analysis there are various instruments and applications under the AI umbrella, which represent vast new business possibilities.

The study aims to give a better structure and deeper understanding on the leading AI applications by examining 35 articles on the different roles of AI in companies’ transition towards more sustainable business modeling.

As a main contribution, based on the qualitative literature review, this paper generates an integrative framework and classifies the main AI applications in the context of business model innovation. The paper maps each application in 3 directions: SBM dimension (ESG); typical business application relevant to SBM and potential BM role.

This research acknowledges significant limitations based on limited literature and fragmented work in this field despite the importance and widespread application of AI, but also opens vast possibilities for future scientific work in the area of AI application towards SBM transition.