Making CDR Work: Generative AI as a Catalyst for Responsible Innovation in SMEs
摘要
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly commit to corporate digital responsibility (CDR) principles such as fairness, transparency, and sustainability, yet face persistent gaps in translating these ambitions into everyday practice due to limited resources and expertise. This chapter examines how domain-specific generative AI (GenAI) can address this challenge through the case of GreenGate AG, a German software company. The Ethos Advisor—a GenAI-based prototype developed by WiseWay—was designed to support sustainability and responsibility leads in ethical communication, guideline drafting, and capability building. Integrating large language model capabilities with curated CDR knowledge, the system operates within a guided, human-in-the-loop framework. A mixed-methods evaluation revealed that the tool enhanced efficiency, content quality, and user confidence, while fostering inclusive engagement and informal learning. Key enablers were speed, structure, and empowerment; trust depended on transparency, source traceability, and optional expert validation. The chapter argues for a shift from abstract AI ethics frameworks to embedded, socio-technical practices and offers concrete design principles for integrating responsible GenAI agents into lean organizational structures. Ultimately, the Ethos Advisor case illustrates that with thoughtful design, generative AI can become not just a tool of automation but a catalyst for embedding responsibility more consistently and effectively into digitally transforming organizations.