Takeaways

• Artificial Intelligence can support progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it cannot replace strong governance and public policy.
• Experts say AI governance is essential to ensure fairness, accountability, and responsible use of AI technologies.
• Governments must develop effective AI policy if AI is to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development before the 2030 deadline.

With fewer than four years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), governments and organizations are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence to accelerate progress. From predicting floods and tracking disease outbreaks to improving farming practices and expanding access to financial and legal services, AI has demonstrated its potential across several development sectors.

However, experts caution that technology alone cannot solve the world's biggest challenges. While AI offers powerful tools, its success depends on the policies and institutions that guide how it is developed and used.

The growing conversation around AI often focuses on what the technology can accomplish. Yet experts argue that the real challenge lies in governance rather than innovation. AI can process data, make predictions, and recommend actions, but it cannot decide what is fair, who should benefit, or who should be held responsible when mistakes occur. These decisions remain the responsibility of governments and regulators.

Water management illustrates this challenge clearly. AI-powered systems can forecast water demand more accurately than traditional methods, helping utilities reduce waste and improve efficiency during periods of drought. But those same systems could also influence how limited water supplies are distributed, potentially disadvantaging vulnerable communities if appropriate safeguards are not in place.

Read More: Why AI Is Bad for the Environment: Real Costs in 2026

Experts note that efficiency should not be mistaken for fairness. Decisions about water allocation, oversight, and citizens' rights to appeal automated decisions require well-designed AI governance, not simply better algorithms.

The same concerns extend to justice systems. Around the world, AI-based tools are already being used in policing, sentencing, parole decisions, and risk assessments. While developers are making these systems more transparent by explaining how decisions are reached, transparency alone does not guarantee fairness.

A system may clearly explain its reasoning while still producing biased outcomes because it relies on incomplete or historically discriminatory data. Ensuring justice requires independent oversight, legal protections, and meaningful opportunities for individuals to challenge automated decisions.

Another major concern is the widening gap between rapid technological advances and slower-moving legal systems. Industry standards can improve the safety and reliability of AI applications, but they cannot determine legal responsibility when AI systems cause harm. A clear AI policy is needed to define accountability among developers, companies, manufacturers, and operators.

Experts also point to global inequalities in AI development. Most advanced AI technologies are created by a small number of countries and corporations, while many local communities remain underrepresented. Thousands of languages worldwide are still largely absent from modern AI systems, limiting access to the benefits of digital innovation.

The environmental cost of AI is another growing issue. Expanding AI capabilities requires energy-intensive data centres, powerful computing infrastructure, and complex supply chains, raising questions about whether AI-driven progress can remain environmentally sustainable.

Also Read: From Data to Impact: How AI Adoption Fuels Sustainable Business Growth

As countries work toward the 2030 agenda, experts believe Artificial Intelligence should be viewed as an enabler rather than a solution on its own. Achieving the SDGs will require governments to strengthen institutions, establish responsible regulations, and ensure AI serves the broader goals of fairness, accountability, human rights, and sustainable development. Without robust governance, even the most advanced AI systems may struggle to deliver lasting public benefit.

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Source: UNU