Vulnerability of Intellectual Capital in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Disruptive Technologies

There is almost no conceptual nor empirical research explicitly directed at the understanding of the vulnerability of intellectual capital (IC). However, it is getting more important, especially under the influence of disruptive technologies. The aim of the study is to define the concept of vulnerability of IC as a relevant characteristic in the context of a rapidly developing disruptive environment and to reveal its essential aspects. To reach this aim the findings of the literature review on the concept of vulnerability are discussed in the paper first. The essence of IC along with the technological changes is analyzed afterwards. Some related concepts, such as risk, resilience, capacity to respond, sensitivity, and similar are explained in relation to IC later. Methods to reduce the vulnerability of IC if possible are discussed at the end of the paper. The key conclusions of the study are as follows: (I) intangible resources are more vulnerable than physical ones; the larger amount of intangibles leads to a greater vulnerability of organization; (II) the approach of examining the vulnerability of IC from internal and external perspectives provides a better understanding of its nature and mechanisms of its occurrence; (III) the more important role the resource plays in the value creation process, the more significant consequences of its potential loss; the less protected the resource is from copying or other loss, the greater the associated risk and vulnerability to a disaster; (IV) human, relationship, and structural capital are expected to be associated with a different level of risk and vulnerability; (V) vulnerability management has to be integrated as a part of ongoing policies and management processes in organizations.