Democracy, Environment, and Technology: The Cases of AI and Fusion Energy (Synthesis Lectures on Engineering, Science, and Technology)

The 21st century is witnessing an unprecedented convergence of transformative technologies that promise to reshape global energy systems, governance, and societal well-being. Among these, Public Interest Technology (PIT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Fusion Energy stand out as critical domains with the potential to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and equitable progress.

This book explores the concepts of PIT, AI, and Fusion, in ten chapters. It begins by tracing the evolution of PIT, emphasizing its role in addressing global challenges through socio-technical frameworks. Key themes include the ethical and practical challenges of PIT, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and funding barriers, as well as its potential to drive equitable solutions. The importance of stakeholder inclusion, particularly from the Global South, and frameworks to manage uncertainties in technology investments are highlighted. Case studies illustrate successful PIT implementations, such as AI-driven sustainability projects and fusion energy initiatives, while underscoring the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptive governance.

The later chapters focus on fusion energy as a PIT advocating for open science, international cooperation, and flexible investment strategies to overcome technical and financial hurdles. In these chapters, ideas that fusion energy, if developed inclusively, could revolutionize global energy systems and combat climate change are discussed, and governance models, such as international commissions and public-private partnerships, to ensure equitable access and ethical development are proposed. Similarly, discussions on AI stress its dual potential to either exacerbate inequality or democratize opportunities, depending on policy and implementation.

Elias G. Carayannis is a Greek-American economist who is a full Professor of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C. He is involved in strategic government-university-industry R&D partnerships, technology road-mapping, technology transfer and commercialization, international science and technology policy, technological entrepreneurship, and regional economic development. As an engineer with training in management, innovation, and entrepreneurship, his career has spanned roles as scientist, technologist, innovation economist, and entrepreneur. Notably, in 1999, he became Director of Research on Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the European Union Research Center (EURC) at the George Washington University School of Business. In 2004, he co-founded and became co-director of the George Washington University School of Business's Global and Entrepreneurial Finance Research Institute (GEFRI).

He has published several books on entrepreneurialism and science and technology. Carayannis has become most recognized for his work in innovation economics, especially the quadruple helix and quintuple helix frameworks.

Vasilii Erokhin is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, China. Since 2017, Dr. Erokhin has been a research fellow at the Center for Russian and Ukrainian Studies (CRUS) and Arctic Blue Economy Research Center (ABERC) at the Harbin Engineering University, China. Dr. Erokhin is also an Adjunct Professor at Key West University (Florida, USA).

Dr. Erokhin is the author of many publications in the areas of macroeconomics, sustainable development, and agricultural economics which focus on emerging markets, developing countries, and economies in transition. His book titles include “Contemporary Macroeconomics: New Global Disorder” (Springer, 2023), “Shifting Patterns of Agricultural Trade: The Protectionism Outbreak and Food Security” (Springer, 2021), and “Handbook of Research on Globalized Agricultural Trade and New Challenges for Food Security” (Engineering Science Reference, 2020).

Dr. Erokhin is a managing editor of the Journal of the Knowledge Economy (Springer) and a guest editor and an editorial board member of several peer-reviewed journals and publications. Dr. Erokhin is the recipient of honorary awards from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.