AI Project and Deployment Risk: Articulation and Legitimization

This study explores how practitioners identify and manage AI project-related risks to reduce AI project failures. Specifically, through a qualitative research study involving 16 data science practitioners, this study presents insights into how practitioners articulate and mitigate the risk of AI project failure. A thematic analysis of this study identified six key themes (Ethical risk, BlackBox Models, Data Privacy, Data Storage, Financial Risks, and Success criteria). Further analysis explored drivers for identifying and mitigating these risks. Specifically, it was found that agency (consumer and institutional-driven) and Bourdieu's social/cultural capital (such as management hierarchy and domain knowledge) legitimized specific AI project risks and were key drivers in ensuring risks were identified and mitigated. Results from this research suggest that future research should explore different social and cultural perspectives since these perspectives can impact the articulation of risk and how these risks can be ultimately managed within an AI project context.