The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

20202,765 citationsReviewgold Open Access

Authors

Ricardo Vinuesa · Swedish e-Science Research Centre

Hossein Azizpour · KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Iolanda Leite · KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Madeline Balaam · KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Virginia Dignum · Umeå University

Sami Domisch · Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Anna Felländer

Abstract

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its progressively wider impact on many sectors requires an assessment of its effect on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Using a consensus-based expert elicitation process, we find that AI can enable the accomplishment of 134 targets across all the goals, but it may also inhibit 59 targets. However, current research foci overlook important aspects. The fast development of AI needs to be supported by the necessary regulatory insight and oversight for AI-based technologies to enable sustainable development. Failure to do so could result in gaps in transparency, safety, and ethical standards.

Topics & Keywords

Smart Cities and Technologies Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Partnerships for the goals

Publication Details

Published in: Nature Communications

Volume 11, Issue 1, pp. 233-233

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14108-y

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 230.95