Understanding the Nature and Constituent Elements of Artificial Intelligence-Based Applications: A Scoping Review Research in Progress

This research in progress manuscript reports on the preliminary findings of a scoping literature review that uncovers the constituent elements of Artificial Intelligence-based (AI) applications as a radically new type of digital artifact and compares them with those of non-AI-based applications to articulate theoretical propositions related to their use within organizations. A preliminary screening of a random sample of 10 non-AI based and 11 AI-based application-related records was conducted to compare and contrast the focus and perspectives adopted by extant research. The findings of this initial screening indicate a tendency towards viewing AI-based applications as black boxes. These findings further suggest that the study of continued use of these applications may be a potentially rich area for future empirical research as most screened records focused on their initial use. The next steps of this review, which will include, among others, a narrative, thematic analysis, and the identification of gaps within extant research, may confirm or broaden these conclusions.