The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated the world, generating both excitement and concern, and raising important questions about its potential impact on the global economy. The impact of AI on economies is complex and difficult to predict. What is certain, however, is that AI is not only a driver of technological progress, but also a powerful tool for achieving sustainable development goals. By intelligently analyzing data and automating complex processes, AI can help make more efficient use of resources and minimize environmental impact.
This article first introduces the Sustainable Development Goals, and then discusses how artificial intelligence can contribute to achieving our sustainability goals. It does so by analyzing the impact of AI technology on society, the environment, and the economy. To answer the key question of whether and how AI technologies can contribute to a sustainable future, particular attention is paid to the impact of AI on the global labor market and the inequalities caused by AI technologies.
What are the goals of sustainable development?
In 2015, world leaders came together and made a landmark commitment to ensure the rights and well-being of all people on a healthy and prosperous planet. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call to action for all countries, whether poor, rich, or low-income, to promote well-being and protect the planet. All countries agree that the eradication of poverty must go hand in hand with strategies to promote economic growth and meet a range of social needs such as education, health, social security and employment opportunities. Combating climate change and protecting the environment must also be part of these efforts.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment.
The United Nations has set the following goals for sustainable development:
No poverty
Zero Hunger
Health and well-being
Quality Education
Gender equality
Clean water and sanitation
Affordable and clean energy
Decent work and economic growth
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Reducing inequalities
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Life under water
Life on land
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Partnerships for the goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all. They are a response to the global challenges of our time. The goals are all interlinked, and to leave no one behind, it is essential that we achieve them by 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals were internationally agreed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
Transforming our world : the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly, UN. General Assembly (70th sess. : 2015-2016). 2015.
How can artificial intelligence help us achieve our sustainability goals?
A research group at the Institute of Engineering Mechanics at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden has investigated how AI can help achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Prof. Ricardo Vinuesa and his colleagues find that AI can help meet almost 80% of all sustainability goals by identifying technological improvements that can overcome some of the current limitations. However, the development of AI is also expected to have a negative impact on a good third of the sustainability goals.
Vinuesa, R., Azizpour, H., Leite, I., Balaam, M., Dignum, V., Domisch, S., Felländer, A., Langhans, S. D., Tegmark, M., & Fuso Nerini, F. (2020). The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Nature Communications, 11(1), 233. The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals | Nature Communications
Defining AI
There is no internationally agreed-upon definition of AI. Therefore, the researchers first had to define what artificial intelligence meant to them for their study: AI is any software technology that has at least one of the following capabilities: perception, including auditory, visual, textual, and tactile (e.g., facial recognition); decision making (e.g., medical diagnostic systems); prediction (e.g., weather forecasting); automatic knowledge extraction and pattern recognition from data (e.g., detecting fake news circles on social media); interactive communication (e.g., social bots or chatbots); and reasoning (e.g., developing theories from premises).
The three pillars of sustainable development
Researchers divide sustainable development goals into three categories: Social, Environmental and Economic.
AI and societal impact
Swedish researchers say artificial intelligence could contribute to achieving 82% of social objectives, including combating poverty, providing quality education, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and sustainable cities. For example, intelligent algorithms could be used to organize and distribute food, medicine, water and energy. In addition, the creation of circular economies and smart cities could lead to more efficient use of resources.
AI and environmental outcomes
Researchers found that artificial intelligence can help achieve 93% of environmental targets for climate protection, marine life, and terrestrial life. The benefits of AI lie in the analysis of large, interconnected data sets to develop collaborative actions to protect the environment. The goal of preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds can be supported by algorithms that automatically detect potential oil spills. Other AI techniques can help identify trends in desertification, which is relevant to environmental planning, decision-making, and management.
AI and economic outcomes
For 70% of these sustainability goals, researchers have identified benefits from AI-based technologies, particularly in terms of productivity gains. However, if the markets of the future rely heavily on data analytics, and these resources are not equally available in low- and middle-income countries, these economies could be left behind economically. This would have significant implications for decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and for reducing inequalities.
AI can also have a negative impact on the use of social media. For example, by showing users content that is tailored to their preconceived ideas. This can lead to political polarization and have a negative impact on social cohesion and thus on reducing inequalities. Without proper regulation, the vast amounts of data generated by citizens could be used to influence consumer opinion on a particular product or political issue.
AI’s impact on global labor market
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports on an IMF analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on the global labor market.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) blog features commentary from IMF staff and officials on current economic and policy issues. Based in Washington D.C., the IMF is an organization of 190 countries that aims to promote global cooperation in monetary and exchange rate policies and to ensure financial stability around the world.
Highly skilled jobs at risk
According to IMF analysis, about 40% of jobs worldwide will be affected by artificial intelligence. While automation and information technologies have tended to affect routine tasks in the past, artificial intelligence tends to affect highly skilled jobs. For this reason, the risks associated with AI are greater in developed countries, but the opportunities to reap the benefits are also greater than in emerging and developing countries.
In highly developed economies, about 60% of the workforce could be affected by the use of artificial intelligence. About half of them could benefit from AI and increase their productivity. For the other half, AI applications could take over the work of humans, reducing the demand for labor and leading to lower wages and fewer new hires. In extreme cases, some of these jobs could disappear.
AI worsens world inequality
With an estimated 40% share of AI applications in emerging markets and 26% in low-income countries, emerging and developing countries appear to be less directly affected by AI. At the same time, many of these countries do not have the infrastructure or skilled workforce to take advantage of AI, so there is a risk that the technology will widen the gap between countries over time.
Kristalina Georgieva comments: „The AI era is upon us, and it is still within our power to ensure it brings prosperity for all.”
Kristalina Georgieva (2024). Artificial intelligence. AI Will Transform the Global Economy. Let’s Make Sure It Benefits Humanity. IMF Blog. (imf.org).
Disadvantaged by default?
The Independent Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ferda Ataman, presented a legal opinion by Professors Indra Spiecker and Emanuel V. Towfigh that seeks to clarify what happens when discrimination is not caused by a person, but by an algorithmic decision-making system.
The susceptibility of automated decision-making systems to error is the central problem in the report: The quality of digital decision making depends largely on the input data. As a rule, neither the users nor the recipients of the systems can understand whether this data is error-free or even suitable for its purpose. Often, those affected are not even aware that an AI system is being used. In addition, information about how the systems work is usually not made available. This means that the ability to identify and combat discrimination by AI systems is very limited.
Ferda Ataman commented on the findings with concern: „AI makes many things easier – unfortunately, it also makes discrimination easier. Whether in job applications, bank loans, insurance, or government benefits: Automated systems or artificial intelligence are increasingly making decisions that are important to people in their everyday lives. Probability statements are made on the basis of general group characteristics. What appears to be objective can automatically reproduce prejudices and stereotypes. The dangers of digital discrimination should not be underestimated.“
Antidiskriminierungsbeauftragte will den Schutz vor digitaler Diskriminierung ausweiten. Gutachten zu Schutz vor Diskriminierung durch algorithmische Entscheidungssysteme. 30.08.2023. Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes, Berlin. Antidiskriminierungsstelle – Aktuelle Meldungen – Antidiskriminierungsbeauftragte will Schutz vor digitaler Diskriminierung ausweiten.
At the end of the day, this will answer the question of whether and how AI technologies can contribute to a sustainable future:
We are at a crucial turning point for a sustainable and just future of artificial intelligence. It is now necessary for representatives of all nations and cultures to engage in a global and scientific debate to develop common principles and laws so that we can shape a future with sustainable and development-friendly AI.
It is equally important that all applications disclose the choices made in their development and use. Information about where the data used to train algorithms comes from and how it is managed should be disclosed, as well as whether and how it complies with existing AI guidelines.
„Digitization is the future. But it must not become a nightmare. People must have confidence that AI will not discriminate against them – and they must be able to defend themselves if it does. That’s why we need clear and understandable rules,“ said Ferda Ataman.
Please find the German Translation of this article here: KI-Technologien: Im Dienste der Nachhaltigkeit