My Fate Is to Die Young, But to Live Forever in Song: Echeloned Design Science Research to a Digital-Me Expert System Design

Abstract

This study explores the developmental trajectory and implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI) -based expert system. Following and extending the echeloned design science research approach, the process examines how the nature of system development changes when the team designing the system shifts from using AI to produce expert artifacts to using AI as the core technology to continuously run digital clones of the expert. We find a radically transformed nature of design and development work and numerous modes of evaluation echelons. Methodologically, the results contribute to DSR in information systems by articulating AI’s role not only as a tool for artifact creation, but as a co-evolving actor within the design process, and the changes that entails to the DSR approach. Theoretically and empirically, we discover and develop the notion of digital-me, hypothesizing the benefits of conceptualizing AI as extending real humans, not building humanlike artificial agents, as the prime use of AI, particularly in user acceptance of expert systems.