From AI potentials to everyday practice: A case study of Danish environmental assessment practitioners’ perceptions of AI.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained considerable attention in environmental assessment (EA) in recent years due to its potential to enhance efficiency and analytical capabilities in EA processes. While current research outlines opportunities and challenges for AI in EA, little is known about how a community of practitioners perceive AI in daily practice. This study explores Danish practitioners' perceptions of opportunities and barriers and how these are shaping their motivation to apply AI into their daily EA practices. Drawing on the theoretical framework, ‘spaces for practice’, this research is based on 19 semi-structured interviews with consultants, authorities and developers. The results show a strong motivation in the community to explore AI, driven by the potential to streamline repetitive tasks, improve report consistency, and facilitate knowledge sharing. Perceived barriers include limited expertise, lack of guidelines, data reliability concerns, and organizational constraints. Notably, there is widespread curiosity and cross-sector attention to how different actors engage with AI. Despite motivation, the study emphasizes that institutional support, shared standards, and open collaboration are essential to turn motivation into AI integration that is meaningful across actors in an EA community. The research argues that AI’s future in EA depends not only on technical advancements but also on broader social and structural conditions shaping its adoption in practice.