Paper Number
ICIS2025-1351
Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially transform public services but presents complex risks. Regulatory measures, like the European AI Act, address some of these risks but complicate AI development and use. As public sector organizations (PSOs) navigate these complexities, AI governance must address tensions between compliance and innovation along with legal ambiguities, institutional contradictions, and ethical dilemmas. Information Systems research traditionally frames tensions as dyadic, resolvable through synthesis, but this view overlooks the multilectical nature of tensions in AI governance. In our qualitative study of three Finnish PSOs (a hospital, a governmental agency, a municipality), we explore, through the trifecta framework of technology-based regulation, how these organizations navigate this complexity. Our contribution is twofold: (1) we empirically apply the trifecta framework to evidence the multilectical nature of tensions in public AI governance, and (2) we conceptually extend dialectical inquiry with multilectics, viewing tensions as interconnected, co-evolving networks rather than dyadic oppositions.
Recommended Citation
Hietala, Heidi; Ciriello, Raffaele; Väyrynen, Karin; and Lanamäki, Arto, "From Dialectics to Multilectics: Navigating Networks of Tensions in AI Governance" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 3.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/public_is/public_is/3
From Dialectics to Multilectics: Navigating Networks of Tensions in AI Governance
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially transform public services but presents complex risks. Regulatory measures, like the European AI Act, address some of these risks but complicate AI development and use. As public sector organizations (PSOs) navigate these complexities, AI governance must address tensions between compliance and innovation along with legal ambiguities, institutional contradictions, and ethical dilemmas. Information Systems research traditionally frames tensions as dyadic, resolvable through synthesis, but this view overlooks the multilectical nature of tensions in AI governance. In our qualitative study of three Finnish PSOs (a hospital, a governmental agency, a municipality), we explore, through the trifecta framework of technology-based regulation, how these organizations navigate this complexity. Our contribution is twofold: (1) we empirically apply the trifecta framework to evidence the multilectical nature of tensions in public AI governance, and (2) we conceptually extend dialectical inquiry with multilectics, viewing tensions as interconnected, co-evolving networks rather than dyadic oppositions.
When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.
Comments
20-PublicIS