Unlocking the Power of AI4SG: Transforming Lives and Communities

August 3, 2023

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges into every sector of our lives, the lingering stigma surrounding it remains persistent, involving concerns such as increasing unemployment risks, biases, discrimination, and threats to privacy and security. However, we should not solely focus on these negative possibilities that we overlook its potential for tremendous positive impacts, as David Wong has stated:

“New technology is not good or evil in and of itself. It’s all about how people choose to use it.”

It is essential to shift our attention towards harnessing AI’s transformative power, with one approach is to unlock its potential in advancing social good. In this blog post, TechSoft will introduce to you the concept of AI4SG and how we, as technology companies, can start embracing it to make a positive impact on our society.

AI4SG

What is AI4SG?

AI4SG stands for “AI for Social Good”, which is a relatively new research field that intertwines AI, the social sciences, and environmental science together. With its core goals spanning across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AI4SG focuses on tackling important social, environmental, and public health challenges to positively impact the well-being of the people, animals, and the planet utilizing AI technologies.

According to the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), there are several criteria for an AI project to be considered AI4SG:

The significance of the social problem

Its novel approach
Its promise for social impact
How it addresses the problem by leveraging cutting-edge AI techniques.

AI4SG in Workplaces – How We Can Get Started

Given the strict criteria of AI4SG, there is no doubt that it is challenging for us to meet all of them. Here are what we believe will be the achievable steps and actions that we can take to start introducing AI4SG into our workplace:

Achieving individual and collective motivation: By acknowledging that our ultimate goal is to contribute to advancing lives and communities, each of us can get motivated at any problems we aim to solve and at the positive changes we can bring.
Embracing a mindset that aligns business goals with social impacts: In addition to meeting business goals and requirements, it is essential for us to integrate ethical considerations, sustainability practices, and societal needs into both the decision-making and the development processes of any AI project to drive impactful changes.
Considering AI4SG to be a long-term goal for the company: This ensures a company’s commitment to utilizing AI technologies responsibly and ethically, contributing to a sustainable and inclusive future.

At TechSoft, we are grounded in building more inclusive, useful, and impactful products for our communities. With #sustainability as core value, we are committed to embracing the AI4SG mindset to ensure that our AI products serve the needs of society while driving long-lasting positive changes. If you are looking to make a change through cutting-edge AI solutions, let TechSoft be with you on this journey. We are always dedicated to collaborating with like-minded organizations and individuals to create a more equitable and sustainable future through the responsible use of AI.