ABSTRACT
Who would have thought that applied statistics and pattern recognition would have given rise to a phenomenon that is today described both as one of the greatest threats and hopes for human society? Artificial intelligence (AI) has been established as a key technology for solving modern challenges both in business and politics. While AI is seemingly conquering new markets, sectors, and problems every day, some are deeply concerned about the negative consequences it produces. In terms of challenges and threats to our societies, few frameworks communicate their broad and fundamental character better than the idea of sustainable development, which is today often related to the United Nation’s (2015) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals were launched in 2015 as part of Agenda 2030, and they encompass 17 goals focused on environmental goals, goals related to social justice, and goals related to economic growth, health, work, and politics. This book examines how AI can both enable and inhibit the SDGs in a large number of ways, some intuitive, and some requiring a deeper analysis. In this chapter, the scope and structure of the book are presented.
