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Elsevier
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Sustainable development in the age of AI

27. August 2024

Von Liana Wait, PhD, Lipsa Panda, PhD

Abstract microscopic photography of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) resembling a satellite image of a big city (Fritzchens Fritz / Better Images of AI / GPU shot etched 5 / CC-BY 4.0)

Abstract microscopic photography of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) resembling a satellite image of a big city (Fritzchens Fritz / Better Images of AI / GPU shot etched 5 / CC-BY 4.0)

How can researchers and policymakers harness AI to advance and monitor the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Three experts weigh in.

As AI revolutionizes research, healthcare and industry, these technologies also have the potential to advance and monitor the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet. To accelerate SDG outcomes, however, regulation, governance and effective prioritization of AI are fundamental.

Elsevier’s recent Insights 2024 survey suggests there is currently insufficient regulation or governance for AI. This sentiment is echoed by a significant number of researchers across the globe who also recognize that AI can accelerate knowledge discovery.

  • 95% of respondents believe AI will accelerate knowledge discovery in the next two to five years.

  • 94% of respondents believe AI has the potential to be used for misinformation

  • 40% with concerns about AI cite the lack of regulation and governance as a top three disadvantage.

Insights 2024: Attitudes toward AI Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet (Elsevier 2024)

Chart from Elsevier's report "Insights 2024: Attitudes toward AI" states that "94% of respondents believe AI has the potential to be used for misinformation."

To delve more deeply into this topic, we interviewed three scholars whose research is showcased in Elsevier’s special collection In the Age of AI: Information to Support UN SDGs Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet.

They talked about how AI technologies are being used to advance and monitor the SDGs, how AI can enhance decision-making, the potential for scaling up AI efforts, and the predicted impact of AI on SDG outcomes.

Here are their key recommendations:

  • Researchers and policymakers should strive to develop and implement AI technologies that take all 17 SDGs into account.

  • Building IT infrastructure and technological readiness is crucial for success, especially for low- and lower-middle-income countries.

  • Stronger local and international AI governance is needed, and this governance should be transparent, inclusive, people-centric and grounded in ethics.

  • AI developers must be transparent about their technologies, use quality and up-to-date data to train their models, and incorporate measures to ensure data privacy and security.

Develop AI technologies that take all SDGs into account

“AI development should be more balanced — it needs to cover environmental and social issues in addition to economic issues.”

Headshot o fDr Junaid Qadir, Professor of Computer Engineering at Qatar University

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Junaid Qadir, PhD

Professor of Computer Engineering bei Qatar University

Although AI technologies are already being used to tackle all 17 SDGs, AI innovation and policy are currently skewed towards SDGs related to economic growth. By analyzing the current global use of AI in research and field projects, Prof Junaid Qadir Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet and colleagues showed that the development of AI technology and ethics frameworks are mainly focused on improving economic growth.1 Over 50% of the sources they analyzed were concerned with industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG9), while less than 5% focused on gender equality, clean water and sanitation, life below water, and life on land (SDGs 5, 6, 14 and 15).

Given the gaps in AI development for SDGs, how much impact is AI predicted to have on SDG outcomes? Though many studies have investigated how AI is currently being used, Dr Sharmin Nahar Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Lancaster University Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet, is the first to forecast the impact of AI technology on SDG outcomes. Her simulations predict that AI technologies will significantly reduce poverty, improve health and wellbeing, and improve gender equality (SDGs 1, 3 and 5) but will not meaningfully improve responsible consumption and production, life below water, or life on land (SDGs 12, 14 and 15) for most countries, based on current efforts.2

Improve AI readiness and investing in IT infrastructure

“If we want to get the maximum benefit of big data and AI technology, we need to invest more in data infrastructure, data privacy and data quality.”

Md Arfanuzzaman is a Climate Change Expert and Environmental Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).

MA

Md Arfanuzzaman

Climate Change Expert and Environmental Economist bei Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)

All three experts emphasize that improving technological readiness is critical to maximizing the benefits of AI technologies. To achieve this, countries need to be open to technological change, have a foundation of IT infrastructure and internet access, and be able to collect and store quality data to measure progress.

In his research, Md Arfanuzzaman Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet focuses on South Asian countries. He notes that while the region is poised to harness AI technologies for SDG monitoring and implementation due to its rapid economic growth and young, tech-savvy population, it faces unique social and environmental challenges.3 He says more investment in IT infrastructure and data collection could accelerate progress in achieving the region’s goals and emphasizes the importance of closing the technological divide between urban and rural areas.

On a global scale, Dr Nahar emphasizes the importance of international investment and collaboration in AI-driven innovation, highlighting the need for high-quality and accessible data. “To understand the impact of AI on SDGs and to enhance evidence-based decision-making, we need to collect high-quality empirical data from individual countries,” she says.

Strengthen global cooperation and governance

“For it to have a positive impact, AI must be used in a responsible and ethical way, and governments worldwide need to invest properly in AI governance.”

Dr Sharmin Nahar is Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Lancaster University in the UK.

SN

Sharmin Nahar, PhD

Lecturer in Entrepreneurship bei Lancaster University

Because SDGs represent global goals and AI technologies have a global impact, international cooperation, governance and ethical oversight are critical. The researchers emphasize that this governance needs to occur across scales — from local to global.

“We need to have agreement among all humanity on the basics but allow room for local aspects, as rules that complement local values, culture and religion are more likely to be accepted,” Prof Qadir explains.

In addition to international cooperation, he says, collaborations among the private and public sectors and partnerships between academia, industry and government will be crucial for AI technologies to effectively support sustainable development goals.

Recognize that AI is a mirror, not a panacea

“As we look at AI for SDGs, we must examine how sustainable our own behavior and value systems are,” says Prof Qadir. “If our notions of progress are not sustainable, no AI can help us because AI just mirrors whatever we show value for.”

At the end of the day, AI’s potential to support sustainable development comes down to how humanity wields it.

Read their research

  1. Dr Junaid Qadir Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet led a data-driven study that shed light on the global use of AI in research and field projects related to SDGs: Osama Nasir et. al., “Artificial intelligence and sustainable development goals nexus via four vantage points Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet," Technology in Society (Feb 2023)

  2. Dr Sharmin Nahar Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet used models to investigate the future impact of AI technologies on SDG progress in 22 countries over nine years: “Modeling the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-based innovation on sustainable development goals (SDGs): Applying a system dynamics perspective in a cross-country setting Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet," Technological Forecasting and Social Change (April 2024)

  3. Md Arfanuzzaman Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet explored how AI technologies are being used for SDG advancement in South Asia and examined the potential for these technologies to be scaled up: “Harnessing artificial intelligence and big data for SDGs and prosperous urban future in South Asia Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnetEnvironmental and Sustainability Indicators (Sept 2021)