Page 49 - AI for Good - Impact Report

AI for Good

Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work

and Economic Growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment
and decent work for all
Half of the 12 targets of SDG 8 are regressing, with only 1
(8.10 Access to financial services) on track. 263 This means
that approximately two billion workers remain in precarious
informal jobs. 264 The UN highlights that progress towards
SDG 8 is hindered by challenges stemming from the after-
math of COVID-19, trade tensions, increasing debts in
developing nations, conflicts, and geopolitical conflicts,
collectively posing threats to global economic growth. 265
AI and SDG 8 Impact
According to a study on the impact of
Various papers suggest that the automation of tasks with AI is AI on SDG 8, AI could act as an (positive)
expected to indirectly yield positive impacts on the SDG goals. 266 enabler for 92% of the targets and act as an
inhibitor (negative) for 33% of the targets.
This includes the potential for growth and employment to gener- (Nature Communications, 2020)
ate social and environmental value, such as creating new income
streams for communities (SDG 1 and SDG 10) and improving agri- Use case 1
cultural practices (SDG 2). 267 That being said, the synergy between Using AI to drive the growth of countries
AI and SDG 8 is well-documented within the UN system: 9 use cases and benefits in providing more products
and services.
out of 40 in AI for Good: Innovate for Impact, 268 and approximately
100 use cases out of 408 in the UN Activities on AI. 269
While there are numerous use cases for SDG 8, the primary focus
of the literature centers on the impact of AI on economic growth, a
first target of SDG 8. One report suggests that the adoption of AI
could potentially generate approximately US$15.7 trillion by 2030,
or a 16 % higher cumulative GDP compared with today, 270 while
others express more pessimism. Economist Daron Acemoglu, for
instance, suggests a more modest GDP boost of approximately link
0.93% to 1.16% over the next decade. 271 Various factors, including Use case 2
investment levels, adoption rates, and the extent of change, will
Implementing open-source AI solutions
influence these projections. Governments are therefore positioned could help drive free access to educational
to create the necessary framework to facilitate AI advancement content and information.
within organizations. While the precise percentage improvement
remains uncertain, all sources concur that AI will indeed impact
economic growth. However, this pursuit of economic growth may
give rise to additional environmental challenges, as the current
economy is not detached from environmental degradation. 272
Another consideration is the connection between AI and job
transitions. While using AI will necessitate new skills and talent to
facilitate the transition, automation could result in the displacement
of numerous jobs. 273 Furthermore, AI has the potential to automate link
the most mundane tasks, allowing workers to concentrate on more Use case 3
interesting aspects of their roles. 274 Governments should therefore Applying tools for smaller companies
take steps to support job transitions and prevent the widening of processes can help them be more effi-
talent gaps that could exacerbate inequalities. cient and to compete on the market, while
making them more sustainable.
Key Considerations for Stakeholders

• Impact assessment: Aligning AI use case development and incentives
with OECD AI principles to maximize sustainable value creation. 275 The
objective is to prioritize governmental tools for AI use cases related to
the SDGs.
• Job transition support: Supporting the workforce access to new skills
while considering diversity to minimize the increase in inequalities. link

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