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Project title

Artificial Intelligence and the Circular Economy

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Maynooth University (MU)

Lead Applicant

Peter Mooney

Project Abstract

CircAI (Artificial Intelligence in the Circular Economy) is an innovative and state-of-the-art project which will generate new knowledge and understanding around the integration of Aritificial Intelligence (AI) in the circular economy. AI is recognised as one of the central enablers of digital transformation in several industries and society in general. This brings together two major societal impacts namely the transition to a low-carbon future and to greater use of digitalisation and automation in our day to day lives. Research is required to examine and critically evaluate the use of AI to enable Ireland to derive valuable waste prevention insights, increase circular economy management opportunities, optimise processes away from the wasteful and harmful linear production models. One of the major attractions in using AI within Circular Economy approaches is that AI-based systems are very efficient, can be trained or tailored to specific cases or scenarios and are usually capable of computational processing several orders of magnitude faster than humans. AI can help to determine the best ways to sort, disassemble, remanufacture and recycle products and materials while optimising other processes. This drives processes for the circular economy and moves away from the linear model of today. By using AI to help design strategies for a circular economy, billions of euros per year could be generated and indeed saved. One of the major downsides to AI-based approaches is that to train and build these systems vast amounts of data is required. Very often these data are generated by humans interacting with systems such as Internet applications, social media applications, automated systems, etc. These introduce many privacy, ethical and legal considerations. AI systems, capable of processing and learning from vast amounts of data, are not aware of how the privacy or legal rights of citizens are affected. For example, for Internet commerce systems to offer us specialised deals and offers they need to learn from our purchasing behaviour online. Society is only starting to get to grips with how citizens' fundamental human rights are affected by AI systems. Therefore, in considering any AI-based system the many benefits and advantages offered by these computational agents must be balanced against the public good and rights of citizens. CircAI will carry out innovative research to consider the place and pathway for AI in Circular Economy approaches and develop a clear understanding of the best practices both on a sectoral level and an international level. Assessing best practice means we can (1) see where AI can help drive Circular Economy ambitions forward but (2)also understand and evaluate overall societal impacts and benefits of AI. An open-accessible and interoperable online portfolio of best-practice examples from Ireland and beyond will be developed and deployed. Several impactful reviews of AI integration in Circular Economy approaches will be published including a number of sector-specific policy briefs and recommendation papers.

Grant Approved

�141,896.81

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

31/03/2022

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/11/2023