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arXiv · 2603.29470

AI-Simulated Expert Panels for Socio-Technical Scenarios and Decision Guidance

Andrew G. Ross·Alan M. Ross
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Abstract

Socio-technical scenarios for net-zero and other transformation pathways combine qualitative storylines with quantitative models, embedding them in plausible societal contexts for model assessment. Conventional scenario generation is resource-intensive, can be limited in internal consistency and diversity of expert and stakeholder perspectives, and is rarely stress-tested. This paper introduces a synthetic, AI-based expert panel to address these bottlenecks. An AI model first simulates domain experts who agree on descriptors, states, and their interactions. A probabilistic Cross-Impact Balance analysis then generates internally consistent pathways, using stochastic shocks to assess robustness and pathway diversity. An AI stakeholder panel uses multi-criteria decision analysis to select a preferred pathway; an AI expert panel translates it into model-ready quantitative inputs. Although scalable and applicable to any other country or region, the framework is applied to Germany's energy transition as a proof of concept, and offers an alternative and/or supplement to scenario generation. Furthermore, it enables Virtual AI-Led Decision Laboratories for exploratory policy stress-testing and provides an approach for rapid, structured expert elicitation and decision support in other domains.

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Andrew G. Ross, Alan M. Ross. 2026-03-31. AI-Simulated Expert Panels for Socio-Technical Scenarios and Decision Guidance. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.29470

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