AI Technologies and Hospital Blood Delivery in Peripheral Regions: Insights from Zipline International

Developing AI technologies has become a necessary condition for firms’ competitiveness. Some studies on AI have clearly outlined what are the beneficial effects of these technologies on a firm's productivity, organization, and performance. Other studies have started to document the environmental impacts of these technologies. However, very few studies have explored the role that these technologies could play for a better society, especially in peripheral regions. Building on AI and hybrid organization literature, this study unveils the societal benefits of AI technologies. After, it shows evidence of these societal issues in a representative case of the drone delivery industry: Zipline International, an intelligent automated system that delivers blood, vaccines, and medical devices in Rwanda, where access to these precious resources is needed. We conclude the chapter by discussing theoretical and managerial implications and proposing future research directions for both AI and hybrid organization literature.