high angle view of families on green lawn

AI for good: Why AI has the potential to achieve the SDGs

Photographic portrait of Gillian Hinde

Contributors

Laura Turkington

7 minute read 18 Sep 2024

Related topics

Corporate responsibility

A new report calls for a collective effort to use AI as a force for good, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of the SDGs.

Three questions to ask

Where do we need to create connectivity and accessibility, and build local ownership of AI solutions, to accelerate progress towards the SDGs?
How will we strengthen confidence, trust and transparency within AI and the data it returns to protect rather than exploit vulnerable populations?
Which alliances and opportunities for strategic collaboration can turbocharge the potential of AI to bring about truly inclusive development?

With many Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets lagging and a growing funding gap, the need to innovate to amplify positive impact has never been more urgent. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a promising tool for accelerating progress by enhancing data analysis, knowledge access and operational efficiency. However, there are concerns that AI could exacerbate existing inequalities if left unchecked.

The EY organization in collaboration with Devex explores how AI’s power can be leveraged to help inclusive, equitable progress. To better understand what is needed to effectively embed AI into global development initiatives, a comprehensive survey was conducted with more than a thousand professionals in SDG-aligned fields, including those working for NGOs, UN agencies, host country governments and development consulting firms. The research also included in-depth interviews and roundtable discussions with AI and social impact experts and implementers.

The resulting report consolidates key insights and considerations to guide policymakers and private sector executives interested in using AI to achieve the SDGs inclusively and sustainably. It concludes that the top five benefits of harnessing AI in development work are:

Improved decision-making through data-driven analysis and predictive modeling
Improvement monitoring, transparency and accountability
Automation of operational processes
More customized solutions tailored to individual needs
Faster delivery of social goods and aid to communities in need

However, it also found that these benefits are likely to occur only if certain conditions are met, which include the following main five key findings. Download the report (pdf).

1. Close access and connectivity gaps

For AI to benefit marginalized groups, it must first be accessible to them. But the quality of digital connectivity must be meaningful, addressing specific needs and contexts rather than pursuing technology for technology’s sake.

This is not just about providing access to high-speed, reliable internet, but also to relevant, localized content and resources. Here AI itself can assist. Natural language processing can make AI tools more accessible and user-friendly. For example, Texthelp is a literacy and accessibility software that uses text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and word prediction to help users with dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions better engage with written content. Similarly, AI tools can localize content for different regions, ensuring that websites, apps, and services are culturally and contextually appropriate, broadening their usability.

Top factors preventing survey respondents from using AI
- Lack of awareness of AI applications — 48%
- Lack of skills or technological background in AI — 38%
- Lack of access to AI-capable technology — 29%

2. Empower the local population

All local stakeholders need a level of digital literacy that allows them to actively and effectively participate in policymaking and knowledge sharing, as well as the design and application of AI tools through co-creation. This not only equips the population with the relevant skill set to access more economic opportunities, but also allows individuals to contribute ideas and develop solutions for the most pressing issues in their communities.

Top enablers to fully leverage AI for inclusive development
- Increased knowledge and awareness of AI and its capabilities — 25%
- Increased access to training and skills development for AI — 19%
- Stronger policies around data privacy and security — 14%

Artificial Intelligence

EY.ai - a unifying platform
Read more

3. Strengthen confidence, trust and transparency

AI must also be wielded with care, especially when applied to marginalized communities. Katherine Boiciuc, EY Oceania Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, discusses the idea of countries being a net importer or exporter of AI. “If you’re an exporter, you can potentially have more control over AI regulation, law, experience and impact on humanity beyond the country you live in. Net importers of AI have to take the privacy, safety, ethical and moral decisions in that service – trusting in the decisions of others that don’t understand your cultural context,” she explains.

Generating and using inclusive data at the community level will help build confidence and trust in AI-based initiatives – and improve their chances of success. The power of being able to “zoom in” on local problems can be seen in the Fraym platform, which provides community-level data to help social impact partners understand local needs and develop effective solutions. For example, in Ethiopia, Fraym technology mapped communities to better understand who is most at risk of developing tuberculosis and how to reach them. The data identified that 65% of people living in pastoralist communities in the Ethiopian region of Afar have no access to radio, television or the internet – and only 57% own a mobile phone. Public health stakeholders were advised to explore alternative options, such as theater, sports clubs, or religious gatherings, to boost awareness of and reduce misinformation surrounding TB vaccination, symptoms and treatment options.

Net importers of AI have to take the privacy, safety, ethical and moral decisions in that service – trusting in the decisions of others that don’t understand your cultural context.

Katherine Boiciuc

EY Oceania Chief Technology and Innovation Officer

Corporate responsibility

The EY Ripples program aims to positively impact one billion lives by 2030. Find out more about this and other global corporate responsibility commitments.
Read more

4. Create a strong enabling environment

Beyond physical infrastructure and digital literacy, a strong enabling environment also entails having the right policies in place to provide guidance, align efforts with sustainability targets and help the safety of every individual before rolling out AI-driven initiatives for the SDGs.

Roundtable participants suggest a multi-country approach to jointly develop policies and advance R&D to create a unified understanding of AI and the broader ecosystem. This will allow public institutions to craft policies that will effectively encourage private entities to have their own regulations in place.

Knowledge sharing among private sector institutions could also help companies incorporate AI tools in their operations and lead to robust policies that promote inclusive development. For instance, EY.ai helps businesses leverage AI capabilities by allowing access to cutting-edge technologies and by connecting organizations to a network of AI practitioners.

5. Prioritize alliances and strategic collaboration

Collaboration among stakeholders is also vital to create a strong enabling environment that encourages AI-driven innovation while mitigating potential risks.

Together we can achieve more

of survey respondents consider public and private sector collaboration essential to maximizing the potential of AI for the SDGs

“The private sector plays a critical role in this ecosystem with its sizable resources and ability to drive technological innovation,”says Laura Turkington, EY Global Corporate Responsibility Commercial and Innovation Leader,” noting that SDG 17 itself emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships as a means to accelerate progress across all SDGs. “By pooling resources, sharing knowledge and expertise, and increasing access to technology for all, actors in global development can support more individuals and empower them to drive progress quicker and in a sustained manner,” she says.

The private sector plays a critical role in this ecosystem with its sizable resources and ability to drive technological innovation.

Laura Turkington

EY Global Commercial and Innovation Leader

AI for Social Impact

Through a global AI for Social Impact strategy, EY is addressing global development issues, using responsible AI equitably to educate, to advance social innovation and to help the environment.

Read now

Listen to the Better Heroes podcast

This podcast series will take you on a journey to explore what is possible and help you believe that humanity can save itself and our planet.

Summary

AI has the power to accelerate solutions to tackle global challenges and structural inequalities. But its potential to create positive human impact will depend on a responsible, purposeful and inclusive approach that focuses on creating value for all.

About this article

Photographic portrait of Gillian Hinde

Contributors

Laura Turkington

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.