The contribution of artificial intelligence to achieving the united nations sustainable development goals

Abstract

The UN Summit of the Future (SoF), held in September 2024, adopted the “Pact for the Future” and its two annexes—the “Global Digital Compact” and the “Declaration on Future Generations”. These landmark outcomes aim to establish a unified global framework on critical issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, the rights of youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. They also seek to accelerate progress toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this acceleration process, there is a recognized need to leverage current technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), more effectively. Accordingly, this study is motivated by the growing recognition that AI’s transformative potential remains underutilized in addressing systemic global challenges. The research investigates how AI can be strategically applied to advance the implementation of the SDGs by 2030. A systematic literature review, complemented by illustrative case studies, was conducted following established methodological protocols to ensure transparency and replicability. The results reveal that AI contributes significantly to SDGs related to health, education, clean energy, and climate action, but also introduces challenges regarding ethics, data governance, and inequality. The study concludes that realizing AI’s potential requires an integrated and responsible approach that combines innovation, inclusivity, and strong governance frameworks. These findings provide timely insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to harness AI for sustainable global development.