The Lock-and-Key Model of Technosolutionism: the Case of AI and Sustainability Challenges

Abstract Some challenges humans are facing do not apply to individuals alone and may not be solved individually. Sometimes, technology seems to provide relevant and promising strategies of problem solving for societal challenges. Choosing technological means and strategies to address encompassing challenges while alternative approaches would also be optional is sometimes criticised as an attitude of technosolutionism . Especially with emergent technologies like AI, this is an attitude common in technologically advanced societies that refers to AI technologies being proposed as solution strategies to societal challenges. It is often the case that instances of the critique need refinement as this would be of help to structuring debates, especially for discussions on the implementation of AI for sustainability issues. In this conceptual article, selected essential features of the attitude of technosolutionism as well as two example cases are discussed. The main goal is to distinguish existing variants of the objection of technosolutionism and to then propose a novel model of this objection, the lock-and-key model . According to this reading, it is a tendency of technology to crowd out other options in discourses on solution strategies due to its apparent seamless introduction. This will provide a new and productive understanding of the critique. Finally, the case of AI systems applied to issues of sustainability is discussed in the light of this model since in this area solutions are most urgent, the promises attached to technological solutions are wide-ranging and a novel conceptual tool is needed to promote reflected debates.