Abstract

The primary goal of economic development efforts is to provide for a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable future. The United Nations current development program is centered on seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are setting the agenda for governments, international agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. Recent advances in technology can play a significant role in reaching many of these goals. In particular, advances in artificial intelligence are creating opportunities in diverse fields that include poverty mitigation, health care, agriculture, resource management, and managing issues surrounding climate change. As with any new technology, there exist inhibitors to the distribution and integration of AI-powered solutions in the developing world. This article addresses both the potential for and barriers against using AI systems to address critical development efforts.