Can Artificial Intelligence Accelerate the Achievement of Global Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations for 2030 aim to address major challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and access to education and healthcare. With less than five years remaining until the deadline, progress remains insufficient in many areas. Artificial intelligence, capable of analyzing massive amounts of data and automating complex processes, emerges as a powerful tool to bridge these gaps.
In the field of healthcare, artificial intelligence is already improving early diagnosis of diseases like cancer or epidemics through the analysis of medical images and epidemiological data. It also enables personalized treatments and expands access to care in remote regions. In agriculture, tools based on this technology optimize crops by analyzing weather conditions, soil quality, and crop health. This reduces waste and strengthens food security, a crucial issue in the fight against hunger.
Education also benefits from these advancements. Adaptive platforms tailor educational content to each student’s needs, while virtual assistants provide continuous support, even outside the classroom. For the environment, artificial intelligence helps monitor deforestation, predict natural disasters, and optimize water and energy resource management. It thus contributes to making cities more sustainable and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
However, its deployment raises ethical and practical questions. Algorithms can perpetuate existing biases, widen inequalities, or consume significant amounts of energy. Rigorous governance is therefore essential to ensure that these technologies serve the public interest without exacerbating disparities. It is also crucial to ensure that all countries, including the least developed, can benefit equitably.
Governments and businesses must collaborate to create robust regulatory frameworks, promote responsible innovation, and invest in digital infrastructure. Without an inclusive and transparent approach, the potential of artificial intelligence risks being unevenly distributed, leaving the most vulnerable populations behind. Its strategic use, however, could transform how the world addresses sustainable development challenges, provided that innovation, equity, and environmental respect are reconciled.
Credits
Source Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-026-07415-0
Title: The contribution of artificial intelligence to achieving the united nations sustainable development goals
Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Walter Leal Filho; Tarek Ben Hassen; Vitor William Batista Martins; Antonis Skouloudis