A Definition, Benchmark and Database of AI for Social Good Initiatives

5 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2021 Last revised: 27 Jul 2021

See all articles by Josh Cowls

Josh Cowls

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Andreas Tsamados

University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies

Date Written: February 17, 2021

Abstract

Initiatives relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver socially beneficial outcomes—AI for social good (AI4SG)—are on the rise. However, existing attempts to understand and foster AI4SG initiatives have so far been limited by the lack of normative analyses and a shortage of empirical evidence. In this Perspective, we address these limitations by providing a definition of AI4SG and by advocating the use of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a benchmark for tracing the scope and spread of AI4SG. We introduce a database of AI4SG projects gathered using this benchmark, and discuss several key insights, including the extent to which different SDGs are being addressed. This analysis makes possible the identification of pressing problems that, if left unaddressed, risk hampering the effectiveness of AI4SG initiatives.

Keywords: AI, Philosophy, Ethics, Society, AI4SG

Suggested Citation

Cowls, Josh and Tsamados, Andreas and Taddeo, Mariarosaria and Floridi, Luciano, A Definition, Benchmark and Database of AI for Social Good Initiatives (February 17, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3826465 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3826465

Josh Cowls (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Andreas Tsamados

University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT CT 06511
United States
2034326473 (Phone)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/luciano.floridi/en

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
227
Abstract Views
1,489
Rank
244,403
PlumX Metrics