Research Article

Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth

Number: 10 August 10, 2026

Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping how knowledge is produced, validated, and applied within organisations, institutions, and economies. While existing studies often examine AI as a tool for automation, productivity enhancement, and decision support, less attention has been given to how AI-generated outputs acquire epistemic legitimacy and exercise authority-like influence over organisational and economic decision-making. This conceptual study develops a framework explaining how AI adoption contributes to economic growth through organisational performance, productivity, innovation, competitiveness, legitimacy, and institutional support. Drawing on authority theory and institutional theory, with supporting insights from creative destruction, agency, and ethical perspectives, the paper argues that AI-driven growth depends not only on technological capability but also on trust, explainability, governance, human capital, technical infrastructure, and regulatory clarity. The simplified framework positions AI adoption as the independent variable and economic growth as the outcome. Epistemic legitimacy and organisational performance operate as sequential mediating mechanisms, while AI readiness, comprising AI knowledge, AI capability, human capital, and technical infrastructure, serves as an enabling condition. The institutional environment, reflected in institutional quality and legal and regulatory clarity, moderates the extent to which AI-generated outputs acquire legitimacy and contribute to organisational and economic.The study contributes to the literature by distinguishing AI’s role as a productivity-enhancing technology from its authority-like epistemic and economic functions. These functions do not arise from consciousness, moral agency, or autonomous judgment, but from the extent to which organisations and institutions treat AI-generated outputs as credible, actionable, and legitimate.The framework is particularly relevant for emerging economies, where weak infrastructure, limited finance, skills shortages, regulatory uncertainty, and fragile institutional trust may constrain AI-driven development. The paper concludes that AI’s contribution to economic growth is conditional rather than automatic and requires coordinated investment in human capacity, institutional governance, responsible regulation, and technological readiness.

Keywords

Project Number

Not applicable

Ethical Statement

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References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Planning and Decision Making

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 10, 2026

Submission Date

May 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 10

APA
Akindipe, S. O., & Payi, M. A. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth. Journal of AI, 10, 217-239. https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR
AMA
1.Akindipe SO, Payi MA. Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth. Journal of AI. 2026;(10):217-239. https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR
Chicago
Akindipe, Solomon Olusakin, and Mzolisi Abednigo Payi. 2026. “Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth”. Journal of AI, nos. 10: 217-39. https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR.
EndNote
Akindipe SO, Payi MA (August 1, 2026) Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth. Journal of AI 10 217–239.
IEEE
[1]S. O. Akindipe and M. A. Payi, “Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth”, Journal of AI, no. 10, pp. 217–239, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR
ISNAD
Akindipe, Solomon Olusakin - Payi, Mzolisi Abednigo. “Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth”. Journal of AI. 10 (August 1, 2026): 217-239. https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR.
JAMA
1.Akindipe SO, Payi MA. Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth. Journal of AI. 2026;:217–239.
MLA
Akindipe, Solomon Olusakin, and Mzolisi Abednigo Payi. “Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth”. Journal of AI, no. 10, Aug. 2026, pp. 217-39, https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR.
Vancouver
1.Solomon Olusakin Akindipe, Mzolisi Abednigo Payi. Artificial Intelligence and Epistemic Authority: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Legitimacy, Organisational Performance and Economic Growth. Journal of AI [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;(10):217-39. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88FJ33SR

Journal of AI
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Izmir Academy Publishing
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Although the scope of our journal is related to artificial intelligence studies, the abbreviation "AI" in the name of the journal is derived from "Academy Izmir".