Building centaur responders: is emergency management ready for artificial intelligence?

Area of Science:

• Disaster Management
• Artificial Intelligence
• Societal Impacts of Technology

Background:

• Emergency management (EM) research has not sufficiently addressed the history and evolution of artificial intelligence (AI).
• Existing EM frameworks lack structures for organizing knowledge-building efforts related to AI.
• Early AI discussions in EM often overlook potential biases and broader societal implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the preparedness of emergency management for artificial intelligence (AI).
• To provide a comprehensive survey of AI tailored for EM scholars and practitioners.
• To propose a new framework for integrating AI into EM practices and research.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and survey of artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to emergency management (EM).
• Analysis of challenges in applying legacy concepts to disruptive technologies using the cyberspace domain.
• Development of a novel framework bridging EM concerns with social science and AI inquiries.

Main Results:

• Identified significant shortcomings in current EM research regarding AI's history, evolution, and knowledge organization.
• Demonstrated the inadequacy of existing EM frameworks in aligning with rapidly emerging technologies like AI.
• Proposed a new, adaptable framework designed to guide research and practice in AI-driven EM.

Conclusions:

• Emergency management requires a more robust and structured approach to incorporating artificial intelligence.
• The proposed framework offers a pathway to better navigate the complexities of AI in EM.
• Enhanced preparedness through updated frameworks is crucial for leveraging AI benefits while mitigating risks.