Anna-Sophie Liebender-Luc, M.A.

Articles in Refereed Journals

Baruffaldi, Stefano Horst; Harhoff, Dietmar; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie (2024). Scientific Paradigms, Graphics Processing Units and the Evolution of Artificial Intelligence, Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024 (1). DOI

• A sudden shift in scientific and technological paradigms lies at the heart of recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Around 2012, traditional symbolic AI gave way to neural networks (NN) as the dominant approach for AI research. This coincided with the sudden successful application of graphics processing units (GPUs) as computational technology. GPUs had been invented for a different application, i.e. accelerating complex graphics displays, mostly in video games. We claim that these developments reflect the nature of breakthrough innovations and have implications for regions competing to become AI leaders. We investigate the role of expertise in GPUs for the uptake of AI innovation across regions globally. To this end, we construct a global database covering 2,088 urban areas for the period from 2000 to 2020. The data encompass a broad set of measures describing AI research and innovation activities, based on publications, patents and startups. We document the ascendancy of neural AI and its association with GPU expertise. Panel OLS and IV regressions demonstrate that after 2012 GPU- and NN-related human capital had a strong effect on the growth of AI-related patents and startups. We discuss implications for innovation policy.

Edited Books, Collected Editions

CDTM; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie (eds.) (2022). Tackling Climate Change in the AI Era: Trend Report, Spring 2022. Munich: CDTM.

• Climate Change is one of the biggest challenges of our time, confronting us with cascading effects if no action is taken now. Global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement illustrate the way towards a carbon-neutral future. Now is the time to deliver on climate commitments and actions. The difficult task, however, is reaching this ambitious goal. One promising solution is using AI and its applications, for example, Robotics and IoT, to push forward data-driven processes, which can be used to better understand past and present events with the goal to identify new ways to tackle climate change. AI has already disrupted many industries. Using AI in sectors such as agriculture, energy and transportation can lead to economic benefits while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. How can we tackle Climate Change with the support of AI solutions? How can this technology be leveraged to create tangible impact and pursue a transformation that creates opportunities for all? How to develop ethical and trustworthy AI systems without a large carbon footprint? This report looks into these questions and provides an understanding of the potential of AI for tackling climate change in the next 20 years. It describes trends (political and legal, economic, social and environmental, technological, business models) that explain the current and upcoming challenges of climate change, identifies potential future scenarios, and innovates new business models, ensuring a balance between sustainability, technology, and future prosperity. The generated business concepts include an urban planning and monitoring simulator, a smart control system for office energy usage, a carbon-negative beef alternative from ambient CO2, AI-powered green microgrids, and an innovative resource-efficient shower system.
• https://www.cdtm.de/trendreports/tackling-climate-change-in-the-air-era/

Further Publications, Press Articles, Interviews

CDTM; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie (eds.) (2020). Independent Living for the Elderly. Trend Report, Fall 2020. Munich: CDTM.

• https://www.cdtm.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Trend-Report-F21-The-Future-of-Waste-Management.pdf

Andrieu, Elodie; Borgonovi, Francesca; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie; Squicciarini, Mariagrazia; Simonetti, Ignacia; Drove, Tamara; Chamizo, Eliana; Gatica, Carolina; Tajonar de Lara, Hector (2019). The Role of Education and Skills in Bridging the Digital Gender Divide. Paris: OECD Publishing.

• https://www.oecd.org/sti/education-and-skills-in-bridging-the-digital-gender-divide-evidence-from-apec.pdf

Borgonovi, Francesca; Centurelli, Raffaella; Dernis, Hélène; Grundke, Robert; Horvát, Peter; Jamet, Stéphanie; Keese, Mark; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie; Marcolin, Luca; Rosenfeld, David; Squicciarini, Mariagrazia (2018). Bridging the Digital Gender Divide Include, Upskill, Innovat. Paris: OECD Publishing.

• https://www.oecd.org/digital/bridging-the-digital-gender-divide.pdf

Barrie, Stevens; Liebender-Luc, Anna-Sophie (2016). The Ocean Economy in 2030. Paris: OECD Publishing.

• https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264251724-en