Integrating AI robotics in emerging economies: what are the ethical limits?

Abstract

The rapid integration of AI robotics into digital strategies has significantly transformed business operations, enhancing efficiency, decision-making, and connectivity. Emerging economies are particularly poised to leverage these technologies to drive economic growth. However, these regions face distinct challenges related to privacy, ethical considerations, and data security. To investigate the complexities of AI robotics adoption in emerging economies, this study employs a two-step methodology. First, a systematic literature review synthesizes key contributions to the field, identifying relevant theoretical frameworks. Following this, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis based on homogeneity analysis of variance using alternating least squares is conducted in the R programming language. The main findings suggest that the successful adoption of AI-driven digital strategies in emerging economies requires balancing innovation with robust privacy protections, ensuring that user trust is cultivated through transparent and user-centered practices for the adoption of AI robotics applications and services. Furthermore, ethical considerations—such as adaptability to local values and regulatory readiness—emerge as critical to aligning technological advancements with societal needs. The presence of outlier variables, such as the impact on employment and the risk of data leakage, highlights possible research gaps in the literature. The MCA analysis in R, though effective for exploring relationships between variables, is sensitive to data quality and may not capture all dimensions of complex, real-world applications. For successful AI robotics adoption in emerging economies, companies should focus on AI robotics systems that prioritize data security, fostering user trust and ensuring compliance with diverse regulatory environments, prioritize digital literacy initiatives and create user-friendly technologies that accommodate varying levels of digital skills. The outlier variables such as “Impact on Employment” and “Data Leakage” have implications for socio-technical systems theory, which examines the interaction between technology, people, and social systems. The separation of these variables from the main clusters suggests that certain socioeconomic impacts of AI robotics, like job displacement and privacy risks, are distinct concerns in emerging economies. This study’s originality uniquely contributes to the field by addressing an area where limited research exists, the intersection of AI robotics in digital strategies, ethical considerations, and privacy in the emerging market context.