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
Oman
Dr Hanaa Mahmoud Sid Ahmed
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics & Business Administration
University of Technology and Applied Sciences
Salalah
Oman

Purpose: This study aims to critically evaluate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It seeks to identify the extent to which AI technologies contribute to or hinder the achievement of specific SDG targets, thereby providing a precise understanding of AI’s potential within sustainable development frameworks.

Methodology: The research adopts a structured expert elicitation approach, utilizing a consensus-based inference process to assess AI's impact on all 17 SDGs and their associated targets. This method integrates multidisciplinary expert insights to systematically evaluate AI's enabling and obstructive effects across the SDG landscape.

Findings: The findings reveal that AI is likely to contribute positively to the attainment of approximately 79% of the SDGs, primarily by facilitating technological advancements that address existing development constraints. AI has the potential to enable progress on 134 specific targets; however, it may also present risks that could negatively affect 59 targets. These risks underscore the complexity of AI's dual impact on sustainable development.

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 underscores the critical importance of integrating ethical, social, and regulatory considerations into developing and deploying AI technologies to ensure alignment with global sustainability objectives.

Limitations: Although expert judgment provides valuable insights, its inherent subjectivity may limit the comprehensiveness of the analysis, particularly in anticipating future advancements in AI or unforeseen societal consequences. Additionally, the evolving nature of both AI and sustainable development priorities necessitates continuous reassessment.