AI-assisted leading sustainability criteria development: a multiple case study

ABSTRACT: This study examines how AI can support the development of Leading Sustainability Criteria in sustainable product development, comparing AI-generated outputs with human-facilitated workshop results from four Swedish companies. Results highlight AI’s ability to accelerate and broaden sustainability framing, but emphasize that contextual relevance and legitimacy depend on participatory inputs. The findings suggest that AI is most effective when integrated into hybrid workflows that preserve human insight and stakeholder engagement—offering practical guidance for future implementation.