Page 9 - AI for Good - Impact Report

Executive Summary

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise in accelerating the achievement of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its rapid development is helping to reshape
industries, economies, and societies around the world. Yet, its dual nature—offering both
transformative potential and significant risks — requires careful consideration.

AI has demonstrated its ability to drive meaningful advancements in critical areas ranging from
healthcare and education to climate change and accessibility. Today, AI is being used in nearly
400 projects across the UN system, spanning all 17 SDGs. However, achieving the SDGs by
2030 is currently off track. With the right approach, AI could be a key driver in getting back on
track to meet these global objectives. This report outlines specific ways AI is already enabling
effective progress for each of these global objectives, from reducing poverty to combating
climate change.

Yet, the power of AI comes with considerable challenges. These include ethical concerns
such as bias and privacy, social disruptions like mis-/disinformation and job displacement,
exacerbating inequality (e.g. gender or urban V rural) and technical matters like data quality
and interpretability. But these challenges can be overcome. By highlighting established and
emerging good practices from around the world, innovative solutions and strategies are
demonstrating that with concerted effort, AI can be developed and deployed in ways that are
secure, equitable, and sustainable.

Key barriers to broader adoption globally include, but are not limited to, insufficient technical
skills, the need for extensive upskilling and reskilling, and varying levels of trust in AI technologies.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits are substantial, from automating routine tasks
to augmenting human capabilities. As the demand for technical skills evolves rapidly, AI literacy
will remain essential but so will emotional intelligence, highlighting the need for a balanced
and human approach to future skills development.

The global landscape for AI governance is swiftly advancing, with frameworks emerging and
evolving to guide the development and deployment of AI systems. Central to these frameworks
is a commitment to upholding ethical principles and human rights, ensuring transparency and
accountability, and with built-in safeguards to prevent misuse, whether intentional or accidental.
The path forward for global AI governance centers on the collective ability to create interoperable
frameworks that strike a balance between regulation and innovation, thereby helping to ensure
the safe, ethical, and beneficial advancement of AI technologies on a global scale.

Developing and deploying AI solutions that benefit society as a whole depends on robust
collaboration among the public and private sectors and civil society. Ethical AI deployment is
essential to help ensure these technologies advance sustainability, reduce inequalities, and
enhance societal well-being while mitigating potential risks. International Telecommunication
Union (ITU)’s AI for Good serves as a critical platform and resource hub for knowledge-sharing,
innovation, and collaboration, ultimately helping to scale effective AI solutions globally. This
Impact Report continues the conversation about how AI can be used for good, offering valuable
insights into current trends and challenges with AI, and opportunities across the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).

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