Abstract
The case focusses on Rho AI, a data science firm, and its attempt to leverage artificial intelligence to encourage environmental, social and governance investments to limit the impact of climate change. Rho AI’s proposed open-source artificial intelligence tool integrates automated web scraping technology and machine learning with natural language processing. The aim of the tool is to enable investors to evaluate the climate impact of companies and to use this evaluation as a basis for making investments in companies. The case study allows for students to gain an insight into some of the strategic choices that need to be considered when developing an artificial intelligence–based tool. Students will be able to explore the role of ethics in decision-making related to artificial intelligence, while familiarising themselves with key technical terminology and possible business models. The case encourages students to see beyond the technical granularities and to consider the multi-faceted, wider corporate and societal issues and priorities. This case contributes to students recognising that business is not conducted in a vacuum and enhances students’ understanding of the role of business in society during new developments triggered by digital technology.
Highlights
Background on Rho AIIt was a Monday morning in early January 2020, and most of the 25-or-so US-based staff members of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) company, Rho AI, were online for the company’s daily stand-up.1 Issues that needed deeper thought were flagged for smaller discussions at a later stage
‘In many ways this project puts us into new territory, so we need to discuss the ethics involved in this project and the potential business case, data quality and impact’, he said
With the slogan, ‘Let’s uncover the value of your data’, Rho AI had evolved from Pit Rho, a company that Callsen and four others had founded in 2012, when they developed an AI product that provided statistical insights into races held by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)2 (Fischer and Beswick, 2019, Online interview with Gilman Callsen, 4 December; Weaver, 2018)
Summary
Background on Rho AIIt was a Monday morning in early January 2020, and most of the 25-or-so US-based staff members of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) company, Rho AI, were online for the company’s daily stand-up.1 Issues that needed deeper thought were flagged for smaller discussions at a later stage. Gilman Callsen, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, raised the topic of a brand new project to develop an open-access and open-source, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment tool.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
