Digital Transformation in Artificial Systems: Engineering Requirements and Political, Economic, and Philosophical Challenges

Mirko Farina · Paolo Ciancarini · Xiao Yu · Jin Chen

Nov 2025 · Morgan Kaufmann

Ebook

300

Pages

Eligible

This book will become available on November 1, 2025. You will not be charged until it is released.

About this ebook

The last decade has seen exponential growth in the development of digital technologies. These have led to significant shifts in the political arena as well as in the economy, precipitating a series of revolutionary changes in the fabric of our societies, which have had far reaching consequences and effects on the way we relate and connect to each other. Digital Transformation in Artificial Systems: Engineering Requirements and Political, Economic, and Philosophical Challenges focuses on analyzing the engineering requirements as well as the political consequences and the overarching philosophical and ethical implications of this transformation, especially in relation to its application in Artificial Systems. In this context, the concept of digital transformation (understood as the practice of redefining models, functions, operations, processes, and activities by leveraging technological advancements to build efficient digital environments) has become increasingly important. While many researchers have studied and analyzed this concept from the perspective of their own disciplinary norms or boundaries, this book brings together key concepts, ideas, and frameworks related to this idea and previously developed in isolation (in disciplines such as computer science, engineering, philosophy, economy, and sociology). Digital Transformation in Artificial Systems focuses on analyzing the engineering requirements as well as the political consequences and the overarching philosophical and ethical implications of this notion, especially in relation to its application in Artificial Systems. The authors encourage and promote an inclusive and responsible digital transformation (development) capable of addressing constraints on global digital divide; deepening cooperation in digitization, industrialization, and innovation, while furthering our understanding of the ethical and moral challenges associated with such a development. The distinctive and most original element of the book is its interdisciplinarity. The development of a collaborative, highly interdisciplinary, and synthetic framework for describing digital transformation in artificial systems as discussed by the authors will allow readers to gather crucial insights that will be instrumental to better understand the reach of the forthcoming AI revolution, its multidimensionality, as well as its potential impact on people and society. Such an original and multidisciplinary understanding is of paramount importance for the realization of practical objectives (such as the development of fairer policies) that will ultimately be directed at promoting human flourishing, social harmony, and moral good.•Provides a thorough exploration of digital transformation within artificial systems, covering key concepts, methodologies, and emerging trends. •Shows practical insights into implementing digital transformation strategies in artificial systems, with real-world examples and case studies illustrating successful applications. •Caters to a broad audience, including professionals, researchers, and students interested in understanding and implementing digital transformation in artificial systems.

About the author

Dr. Mirko Farina is a highly accomplished academic with a diverse background in philosophy and computer science. He currently serves as the Professor and Head of the Human-Machine Interaction Lab at the Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems in Xiamen, China. He played a crucial role in establishing this institute in collaboration with Xiamen University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and the Xiamen Municipal People's Government. Farina has been involved in various academic positions, including being an Associate Professor of Philosophy of Computer Science at Innopolis University and holding research fellowships at institutions like Saint Petersburg State University and King's College London. He has been an active participant in global initiatives, having served on the G20 Task Force 1 on Global Health and Covid-19 in 2021. As an influential figure in academia, Farina is the founding editor and co-editor in chief, along with Prof Chen Jin of Tsinghua University, of the 'Digital Development Quarterly' (DDQ). This international journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems in Xiamen, aims to advance global discourse on digital innovation and development in the context of the new AI revolution. The journal is expected to be launched in late 2024 and will likely be published by Springer. Throughout his career, Farina has been successful in securing substantial research funding, totaling over USD 1.3 million. He boasts an impressive publication record with around 100 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in top-tier journals in both philosophy and computer science. Additionally, he is currently co-editing two books on expertise, to be published by Oxford University Press and Routledge in the first quarter of 2024. Farina has also contributed to a Special Issue on distributed cognition for Frontiers in Psychology (2023) and is working on another issue on the impact of machine learning in society for Philosophy & Technology, scheduled for publication in the future.

Dr. Paolo Ciancarini is a Tenured Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the University of Bologna – Alma Mater Studiorum. He lectures on Software Engineering and Software Architecture. In the period 2000-2004 he has served as Chair of the undergraduate and graduate studies in Computer Science at the University of Bologna. In the period 2008-2011 he has served as Chair of the Joint PhD Schools in Information and Communication Technologies at the University of Bologna. He is currently the coordinator of the area panel for Computer Science and Engineering for the research evaluation committee of the University of Bologna. He has also been president of the CINI, the Consortium of Computer Science and Computer Engineering Departments in Italian University and of GRIN, the association of Italian Computer Science Professors. He is author of hundreds of publications in computer science and software engineering and has lead multiple externally funded projects and consulting initiatives in the area of software.

Dr. Xiao Yu is a prominent figure in the field of digital economy and artificial systems. He serves as the Founder and Executive Secretary-general of the Institute for Digital Economy & Artificial Systems (IDEAS), established in 2021 through collaboration between Xiamen University and Moscow Lomonosov State University under the BRICS Partnership of New Industrial Revolution. Additionally, he is the Founder and Director of the Sichuan Digital Development Research Center (SDDRC), a government-affiliated think tank jointly built by the Sichuan Provincial Big Data Center and the Sichuan Administration Institute. Dr. Yu Xiao earned his Ph.D. in social sciences from Tsinghua University, with prior academic achievements including a master's degree in art history from the Chinese National Academy of Arts and dual bachelor's degrees in management and philosophy from Renmin University of China. His diverse academic background reflects his multidisciplinary approach. His research interests encompass various aspects of the digital government and digital economy, including ethics, governance, commercialization, and international cooperation in science and technology. Dr. Xiao has published over 20 papers in top English and Chinese journals such as E-government, Knowledge-Based System, IEEE Access, and Urban Planning.

Dr. Jin Chen is a distinguished academic in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategy, currently holding the position of Professor in the Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategy at Tsinghua SEM (School of Economics and Management). He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical process control from Zhejiang University in 1989 and later completed his Ph.D. in Management Engineering, also at Zhejiang University, in 1994. His research and teaching primarily focus on the management of technological innovation. Dr. Chen has an impressive publication record, with over 600 articles published in various journals and proceedings of international conferences, including renowned publications like "Technovation," "R&D Management," "Research Technology Management," and "IEEE Transaction on Engineering Management." Dr. Chen is actively involved in academic committees and editorial roles. He is a member of the Education Committee of CAE (Chinese Academy of Engineering), a member of the division of management science in the council for technology and science of the Ministry of Education, and the vice chairman of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology. He serves as the chief editor of "Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China," "Digital Development Quarterly," and "Review of Evolutionary Economics and Economics of Innovation." Additionally, he holds associate chief editor positions for several journals, such as "International Journal of Technology Marketing," "Journal of Knowledge Management Studies," and "Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy," among others. Prof. Chen Jin also serves as the Executive Associate Editor of the "Chinese Journal of Engineering Design" and is a member of the editor committee for various reputable journals in the fields of technology management, science, and engineering.

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