In the past several months, we all have been scared of Artificial Intelligence. But after bringing it into our daily usage, we discovered how it simplified our work & increased productivity. There are already heartening examples of AI or ai for sustainable development goals making a positive impact. 

There is a Direct Alliance Between Sustainable Development Goals & AI.

Amazingly, AI is helping in every area of life. Whether it’s to perform quick solutions for business to innovation & technology. Now, you may be thinking, “Is it worthwhile to fulfill sustainable development goals?” Well, the answer is Big,” Yes.” 

According to a study published in Nature, AI could help achieve 79 % of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Here are ways in which AI can be leveraged to support the achievement of these goals:

1. Poverty Alleviation (SDG 1):
   • AI for Financial Inclusion: Implement AI-driven financial solutions to expand access to banking services for underserved populations.
   • Predictive Analytics: Use AI to analyze economic patterns and identify regions at risk of poverty, enabling targeted interventions.
2. Zero Hunger (SDG 2):
   • Precision Agriculture: Employ AI and IoT devices for precision farming, optimizing resource use and increasing crop yields.
   • Supply Chain Optimization: Implement AI in supply chain management to reduce food waste and improve distribution efficiency.
3. Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3):
   • Diagnostic Support: Use AI for medical imaging analysis, early disease detection, and personalized treatment plans.
   • Epidemic Surveillance: Implement AI-powered systems to monitor and predict disease outbreaks, facilitating timely response.
4. Quality Education (SDG 4):
   • Personalized Learning: Develop AI-driven educational platforms that adapt to individual learning styles and needs.
   • Remote Learning Solutions: Use AI to enhance online education, making it more accessible and effective.
5. Gender Equality (SDG 5):
   • Bias Detection: Implement AI algorithms to identify and mitigate gender biases in various sectors, including hiring and promotions.
   • Data Analysis: Use AI to analyze gender-specific data to inform policies that promote equality.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6):
   • Water Management: Employ AI for efficient water distribution, pollution detection, and water quality monitoring.
   • Predictive Maintenance: Use AI to predict and prevent infrastructure issues in water supply systems.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7):
   • Energy Optimization: Implement AI to optimize energy consumption, enhance grid management, and promote the use of renewable energy sources.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8):
   • Labor Market Analysis: Use AI to analyze labor market trends, identify skill gaps, and inform workforce development strategies.
   • Entrepreneurship Support: Implement AI-powered tools to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries.
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9):
   • Smart Cities: Use AI for urban planning, traffic management, and infrastructure optimization to create more sustainable and efficient cities.
   • Innovation Acceleration: Foster AI-driven innovation through research and development initiatives.
10. Reduced Inequality (SDG 10):
    • AI in Social Services: Implement AI to improve the delivery of social services, ensuring fair and equitable distribution.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11):
    • Urban Planning: Use AI for sustainable urban development, optimizing transportation, waste management, and energy usage.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12):
    • Supply Chain Transparency: Implement AI for monitoring and ensuring transparency in supply chains, reducing waste and environmental impact.
13. Climate Action (SDG 13):
    • Climate Modeling: Use AI to analyze climate data, predict changes, and develop strategies for climate resilience.
    • Carbon Footprint Tracking: Employ AI to track and manage carbon footprints across industries.
14. Life Below Water (SDG 14) and 15. Life on Land (SDG 15):
    • Biodiversity Monitoring: Use AI for monitoring and protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems, identifying threats and promoting conservation.
15. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16):
    • Legal Analytics: Implement AI in legal systems for data analysis, improving the efficiency and fairness of justice systems.
16. Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17):
    • Data Sharing Platforms: Develop AI-powered platforms that facilitate data sharing among governments, NGOs, and businesses for more effective collaboration.

Do you want to validate it with examples?

• After Hurricane Harvey, an AI application using satellite imagery and object detection helped identify safe escape routes in flooded areas of Houston. 

• Another example is a Microsoft app aiding the visually impaired by using AI on smartphones to recognize people and objects.

• An AI-enabled wearable device could help over 400 million people with diabetes by detecting early signs through heart rate data. AI could also analyze mobile images to distinguish between benign skin lesions and melanoma, benefiting millions without easy access to dermatologists.

•  Artificial Intelligence is like a wizard for city travel! It can actually foresee those annoying traffic jams before they happen and then poof! Suggests magic alternative routes to save us from the headache. But wait, there’s more enchantment when it teams up with shared mobility. This magical tech predicts exactly when and where we need rides, so companies can make sure there are enough vehicles just where we want them.

•  Companies are using AI to figure out when wind turbines, hydraulic plants, or biomass plants are most efficient. This smart tech predicts how much energy we’ll need, preventing breakdowns and keeping the power flowing smoothly. With sensors for humidity, temperature, and fertilization, AI predicts what crops need. And get this – drones are even joining the party, helping farmers keep an eye on things and using fancy image analysis to control pests. 

• In manufacturing, AI’s superpower is its vision! It can spot assembly line errors and safety issues that our eyes might miss, preventing disasters. And hold on, it’s not just about efficiency; it’s also about safety, especially in construction where safety is a big deal. They’ve even got AI acting like a wise oracle in tunnel boring machines, predicting breakdowns by processing tons of info. Imagine the economic savings and efficiency – it’s like a superhero for sustainable development, foreseeing problems and keeping things on the right track. 

Conclusion 

In the grand tale of technology and progress, Artificial Intelligence has emerged not as a villain but as a hero, contributing to our daily lives in ways we once hesitated to embrace. As we navigated the initial uncertainties, goals of artificial intelligence revealed its true superpowers: simplifying our tasks, boosting productivity, and even championing noble causes like Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The direct alliance between AI and SDGs is nothing short of amazing, with the potential to fulfill a whopping 79% of these crucial goals, as revealed by a study in Nature.

From aiding disaster response after events like Hurricane Harvey to empowering the visually impaired through innovative smartphone apps, and even assisting in predicting and preventing health issues, AI has proven to be a force for good. It’s not just about solving business problems; it’s about making a positive impact on our world. Whether it’s navigating city traffic like a wizard, optimizing energy usage in industries, or revolutionizing agriculture with drones and predictive analytics, AI has become a key player in shaping a more sustainable and efficient future. It’s not the feared unknown; it’s our friendly guide, foreseeing challenges, and helping us stay on the right track towards a brighter tomorrow. Cheers to AI – our superhero for sustainable development!