The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Literature Review, Dr Muawya Hussein, Dr Hanaa Sid Ahmed
Dr Muawya Ahmed Hussein
Assistant Professor, Department of Finance & Economics
Dhofar University
Salalah 211, PO Box 2509
Oman
ORCID: 0000-0002-5938-1026
Dr Hanaa Mahmoud Sid Ahmed
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration
University of Technology and Applied Sciences
Salalah 211, PO Box 608
Oman
ORCID: 0000-0002-8275-9840
DOI: 10.47556/J.IJIKMMENA.10.1-2.2025.2
Type of Paper: Literature Review
Received: 8 May 2025 / Revised: 12 June 2025 / Accepted: 16 June 2024 / Published: 27 June 2025
Purpose: This study aims to critically evaluate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Methodology: The research adopts a structured expert elicitation approach, utilising a consensus-based inference process to assess AI’s impact on all 17 SDGs and their associated targets.
Findings: The findings reveal that AI positively contributes to 79% of the SDG targets (134 in total), mainly by overcoming development challenges through technology. However, AI also poses risks to 59 targets.
Contribution: This study contributes to the emerging body of literature on AI and sustainable development by offering a comprehensive, target-level analysis of AI’s influence on the SDGs. It integrates ethical, social, and regulatory considerations into developing AI technologies to ensure alignment with global sustainability objectives.
Limitations: Expert judgement’s subjectivity and AI’s evolving nature may limit analysis accuracy, requiring ongoing reassessment to address future uncertainties.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI); Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Expert Elicitation; Technology; Development Challenges; Ethics; Regulatory Considerations.
Citation: Hussein, M.A. and Sid Ahmed, H.M. (2025): The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. International Journal of Innovation and Knowledge Management in Middle East and North Africa, Vol. 10, No. 1/2, pp. 23-36.
