Page - 133 - in Digital Entrepreneurship - Impact on Business and Society

6 Conclusion AI plays an increasingly important role for businesses. Researchers and entrepre- neurs are becomingmore andmore aware of this topic, which is reflected in the number of research topics in this area. In this chapter, we explored a strategic view of AI applications and their influence on the innovation of businessmodels. The investigation of start-ups and incumbents opened the distinction of AI roles in business model innovation. The results showed thatAInotonlyassistsor supportsbut alsohas thepotential todrive businessmodels.Furthermore, a classification schemewasdeveloped that allows to prescribe the impact of AI on the business model in terms of its inflow and ori- entation. This allows to identify interactions within the business model and to evaluateAI applicationswith respect to their innovation potential. In addition, the standardization strategies allow the entrepreneur tomake proposals for action that canmake his ownAI pathmore accessible. It is therefore essential that companies become aware of the diversity and range of AI applications and their potential. The AI roles, classification schemes and standardization strategies presented here are intended to provide a better under- standing and to provide the entrepreneur with tools for strategic consideration. New opportunities for entrepreneurs and researchers are related not only to the development of supporting applications, but also especially to the theoretical and practical design of AI-driven business models. The novelty of these business models can give rise to completely new business relationships, organizational structures and business processes that could lead to companies of a kind not seen before. Potential future research could therefore focus on the field of AI-driven enterprises, based on anAI-driven businessmodel. The challenges for entrepreneurs who want to pursue their own AI path are manifold. Data management, development costs and talents, operational and strategic changes are only a part ofwhat can happen to companies nowand in the future.Nevertheless, theAI path is already being takenbymany companies, in the knowledge that this class of technology will change many areas of the economy forever.TheadvantageofgoingdowntheAIpathasanentrepreneur isnotonly the elimination of a potential competitive disadvantage, but rather the possibility to develop and break new ground. Appendix See Table 2. AI-Enhanced BusinessModels for Digital… 137