Our Planet Powered by AI

8AI Culture and Society

How can social, economic, and ethical criteria be incorporated in research and development to ensure that all segments of society are benefiting? This chapter aims to answer that question.

The social fabric is a complex web of intertwined communities and groups, each with their own needs, interests, and capabilities. Think of it as a quilt that requires everyone's commitment to keep it strong. Artificial intelligence, then, can be seen as an opportunity to link this quilt together and give everyone the same chance of participating in the digital world. The true question is, how can AI be used to bridge the digital divide and ensure fairness in technology? How can AI uphold culture and ensure inclusivity for the human race?

One way to meet these social, economic, and ethical criteria is through research and development that considers the needs of all segments of society. In particular, this includes people with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people worldwide have some form of disability. It is therefore essential that AI‐based developments take into consideration the specific needs of people with disabilities and how AI technologies can help them better sense the world around them. An example would be the use of computer vision to assist those who are blind, or speech recognition and translation technologies for those who are hard of hearing. Imagine AI‐based technologies that are designed to help people ...