s10796-022-10279-0
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are the two disruptive technologies emerging from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) that have introduced radical shifts in the industry. The amalgamation of AI and blockchain holds tremendous potential to create new business models enabled through digitalization. Although research on the application and convergence of AI and blockchain exists, our understanding of the utility of its integration for business remains fragmented. To address this gap, this study aims to characterize the applications and benefits of integrated AI and blockchain platforms across different verticals of business. Using bibliometric analysis, this study reveals the most influential articles on the subject based on their publications, citations, and importance in the intellectual network. Using content analysis, this study sheds light on the subject’s intellectual structure, which is underpinned by four major thematic clusters focusing on supply chains, healthcare, secure transactions, and finance and accounting. The study concludes with 10 application areas in business that can benefit from these technologies.
🌾 Nyakupfuya (Plain Language Summary)
Imagine you have a very smart assistant (that's AI) who can learn and make decisions, and a very trustworthy record book that everyone in the village can see but nobody can tamper with (that's blockchain). When you put these two together, you can do amazing things for your business. This paper looked at many other research studies to see how these smart assistants and trustworthy record books are being used together. They found that combining them is especially good for keeping track of goods as they move from the farm to the market (supply chains), for making sure patient information is safe and accurate in hospitals (healthcare), and for making sure money transfers are honest and clear (secure transactions and finance). Think about it like this: Your smart assistant (AI) can predict when your maize crop will be ready for harvest, and the blockchain can securely record the agreement with the buyer, ensuring you get paid fairly and on time. Or, the AI could help a clinic manage medicine supplies, and the blockchain could track every dose to prevent theft or spoilage. The combination means businesses can be run more efficiently, honestly, and with fewer mistakes, which can lead to more profit for everyone involved. So, what does this mean for you? It means that the same kind of smart thinking and secure record-keeping that is changing big businesses can also help improve how we farm, trade, and manage resources in our own communities. It's about using new tools to make our work more reliable and profitable.
🧠Key Concepts
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Making computers think and learn like people.
💡 It's like having a very clever young person in your family who can learn farming techniques by watching, remember all the weather patterns from last year, and then suggest the best time to plant or which crops will do well.
Blockchain
A shared, unbreakable record book for many people.
💡 Imagine a village record book where every important event – like who sold cattle to whom, or who paid their dues to the headman – is written down. Once a page is full and signed by witnesses, it's copied and given to several trusted elders. No one can go back and secretly change what's written on a previous page without everyone else noticing because their copies wouldn't match. That's blockchain, but for digital information.
Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0)
The latest wave of new technologies changing how we live and work.
💡 Think of the different ages of progress: first, we had machines powered by water and steam (1st IR), then factories with electricity (2nd IR), then computers and the internet (3rd IR). IR4.0 is the current age, driven by smart technologies like AI and blockchain, connecting everything.
Digitalization
Turning information and processes into a computer-readable format.
💡 Instead of writing down cattle sales in a physical book, you use a mobile phone app to record the sale, which can then be easily shared and analyzed. It's like moving from paper maps to using Google Maps on your phone.
Bibliometric Analysis
Studying research papers by counting and analyzing how often they are cited.
💡 It's like looking at how many times a respected elder's advice is mentioned in village discussions over the years. If an elder's name comes up often in important conversations, it means their wisdom is highly valued and influential. This paper used this method to find the most important research on AI and blockchain.
💪 Practical Implications
- ✓ Farmers could use AI to predict crop yields and market prices, while blockchain could ensure transparent and secure contracts with buyers, guaranteeing fair payment.
- ✓ Small businesses could implement simple digital record-keeping systems that are more secure and easier to manage, reducing errors and potential fraud.
- ✓ Communities could explore using these technologies for managing shared resources, like water or grazing land, with transparent and verifiable usage records.
- ✓ Mobile money platforms could become even more secure and efficient by integrating blockchain for transaction verification, potentially reducing fees.