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The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Nature Communications · 2020 · Vol. 11(1) · pp. 233–233

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 FelländerSimone D. Langhans(Basque Centre for Climate Change)Max Tegmark(Massachusetts Institute of Technology)Francesco Fuso Nerini✉(KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

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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.

Smart Cities and Technologies Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies Ethics and Social Impacts of AIAccountabilityTransparency (behavior)Sustainable developmentProductivityComputer scienceBusinessRisk analysis (engineering)Engineering ethicsProcess managementPolitical science