AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

Abstract

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have increasingly been viewed as opportunities to develop solutions that address global challenges and impact various policy fields. The success of AI in commercial applications and its positive influence in areas such as healthcare, access to information, or governance, has demonstrated its potential as a force for social good.1 Numerous studies highlight the benefits of targeted AI and ML applications for social good yet emphasize the need to balance innovation with responsible use that addresses associated risks. This paper aims to bridge the knowledge gap between technical and policy-oriented domains by providing basic definitions of AI and ML and offering a concise yet comprehensive overview of AI’s use for social good, focusing on how it has contributed and can continue to contribute to tracking SDG progress and monitoring human rights effectively, ethically, and responsibly.