AI offers tremendous potential for advancing the SDGs, but its development and deployment must be approached responsibly and ethically.
The Agenda 2030 set by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—aiming to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity—faces unprecedented challenges in the current global landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities, disrupted economies, and strained healthcare systems. Geopolitical conflicts further complicate the picture, hindering international cooperation and equitable resource allocation. In this context, achieving the SDGs within the remaining timeframe necessitates a paradigm shift—an urgent need for innovative solutions to accelerate progress. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful tool with the potential to be a game changer in pursuing sustainable development.
AI offers a multitude of benefits that can be harnessed to advance the SDGs across various sectors. With its ability to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and automate tasks, AI offers immense potential to address complex challenges. As detailed in the table below, stakeholders can optimise resource allocation, enhance decision-making, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs by leveraging AI's capabilities.
AI offers a multitude of benefits that can be harnessed to advance the SDGs across various sectors. With its ability to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and automate tasks, AI offers immense potential to address complex challenges.
Table 1: Role of AI in Advancing SDGs
|
Development Focus |
SDG Objectives |
Role of AI |
|
Many SDGs rely on accurate and timely data for effective decision-making. |
AI algorithms analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns, trends, and insights, crucial for monitoring and implementing SDGs. |
|
|
SDG 1 aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms. |
AI can identify poverty-stricken areas, predict economic fluctuations, and develop targeted social safety net programs. AI-powered chatbots can provide financial literacy training and facilitate access to financial services, particularly in underserved communities. According to some estimates, AI will contribute more than US$ 15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. |
|
|
SDG 3 focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. |
From aiding in medical diagnosis and drug discovery to personalising treatment plans and automating repetitive tasks, AI presents a significant opportunity to improve healthcare delivery. AI-powered tools can analyse medical images for faster disease detection, provide virtual consultations in remote areas, and monitor chronic illnesses remotely. Cognitive robotics can merge data from preoperative medical records with live operational data, aiding physicians in refining their instrument precision during procedures. These advancements not only improve surgical outcomes but also foster trust in the application of AI across various surgical specialties. A study by Accenture suggests that AI can improve healthcare productivity by up to 40 percent, leading to better access to quality healthcare for all. |
|
|
SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. |
AI-powered tutoring systems can personalise learning experiences, catering to individual student needs and paces. AI can analyse student performance data to identify learning gaps and provide targeted interventions. Additionally, AI-powered translation tools can facilitate knowledge sharing across language barriers, promoting inclusive education. |
|
|
Several SDGs address environmental concerns, like clean water, clean energy, and climate action. |
AI can analyse environmental data to predict weather patterns, track deforestation, and optimise resource management practices. AI-powered models can simulate the impact of climate change scenarios and aid in developing effective mitigation strategies. |
|
SDG 2 focuses on achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. |
AI technologies like smart farming allow farmers to optimise yields and reduce resource usage, enhancing food security. |
|
|
|
Achieving the SDGs requires innovative solutions and global collaboration. |
AI supports research and development and facilitates collaboration through platforms that connect experts and communities. |
|
Ensuring access to information and communication technologies is crucial for achieving SDGs like industry, innovation, and infrastructure. |
AI creates inclusive technologies with natural language processing and speech recognition, fostering participation in the digital economy. |
|
|
SDG 11 focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. |
AI can optimise traffic flow, improve energy efficiency in buildings, and manage waste disposal more effectively. AI-powered simulations can help urban planners design sustainable cities that are resilient to climate change and natural disasters. AI-powered smart grids can reduce energy consumption in buildings, contributing to a more sustainable future for cities. |
|
SDG 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all. |
AI optimises supply chains, reducing inefficiencies and anticipating demand fluctuations, supporting economic growth and responsible production. |
Source: Authors’ own; data from multiple sources.
Beyond its ability to address specific developmental goals, AI also fosters collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable development. By facilitating the creation of AI ecosystems—networks of researchers, developers, businesses, and policymakers working together—AI can accelerate progress. These ecosystems can share data, expertise, and resources, leading to the development of new AI-powered solutions for sustainable development challenges. This requires bridging the digital divide, the gap between those with access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and those without which can be achieved through infrastructure development, digital literacy training, and promoting affordable access to technology.
Beyond its ability to address specific developmental goals, AI also fosters collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable development.
While AI offers tremendous potential for advancing the SDGs, its development and deployment must be approached responsibly and ethically. AI algorithms trained on biased data can perpetuate existing challenges. Ensuring fairness and inclusivity in AI development is crucial by employing diverse datasets and incorporating ethical considerations such as fairness, transparency, accountability, and human rights throughout the design process.
While AI offers tremendous potential for advancing the SDGs, its development and deployment must be approached responsibly and ethically. AI algorithms trained on biased data can perpetuate existing challenges.
Maximising the positive impact of AI on the SDGs requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Governments, businesses, civil society organisations, and academic institutions must work together to develop AI solutions for sustainable development. This requires open communication, knowledge sharing, and collective action. Public and private investment is also needed to support research and development of AI for sustainable development - funding for AI research, infrastructure development, and digital literacy programs remains crucial. Finally, poorer economies need capacity-building initiatives to enhance their expertise in AI deployment for sustainable development through training programmes for AI professionals and fostering research collaborations.
Soumya Bhowmick is an Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.
Arti Mahato is a Research Intern at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Soumya Bhowmick is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation. His research focuses on sustainable development and ...
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