Artificial Intelligence for Intergenerational Innovation: Knowledge Transfer, Legacy, and Sustainable Futures

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents one of the most transformative technological advancements of the 21st century. AI is rapidly transforming human societies and their knowledge transfer systems. While AI’s immediate impacts are currently widely monitored and studied on a broad basis, its implications for the intergenerational compound in society remain underexplored. This chapter investigates how AI innovations reshape intergenerational knowledge creation, transfer, and preservation. Drawing on theories of knowledge management, organizational learning, and intergenerational equity, the chapter conceptualizes AI as an agent of innovation and cultural continuity. Case studies on climate change mitigation, sustainable development, and digital legacy highlight the potentials and risks of AI in fostering intergenerational knowledge flows. The analysis underscores both the benefits of AI – such as enhanced cultural transmission, digital legacies, and novel forms of intergenerational literacy – as well as the costs, including sustainability concerns, cultural homogenization, and ethical dilemmas. The research outcomes cover the use of AI for intergenerational transfers. Positive potentials but also potential downfalls of AI in society in regard to the intergenerational compound will be discussed. The chapter concludes with recommendations for responsible governance frameworks that ensure AI-driven intergenerational knowledge transfer remains equitable, sustainable, and inclusive.