AI for Good
AI for Good
IN Numbers
85m
Jobs expected to be lost to AI. Though some 97 million more will be created.
$7tn
The increase in global GDP (around 7%) driven by AI, predicted to lift productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points over a 10-year period.
$613
Expected value of AI in healthcare by 2034, up from $27 billion in 2024.
THE BIG Picture
The advance of AI is unrelenting, and sometimes a little scary…
In the words of Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer at Google X, “For the first time in the history of humanity, we are not creating a tool. This is not something that will do what we tell it to do. We are creating a form of sentient being.”
But if we humans can catch our collective breath for a moment – we will realise that it can be a force for good. It’s still (mostly) up to us how it turns out.
AI offers vast potential to solve big challenges, but is also raising huge concerns. On the plus side, it’s revolutionising life sciences, education, and energy systems. But there are concerns, too.
AI’s insatiable thirst for energy and water places significant strain on resources. One Meta data centre is predicted to have the same carbon footprint as Manhattan.
AI’s thirst for energy and water strains resources
to consume as much electricity annually as the entire nation of Japan. This paradox demands our urgent attention.
The displacement of jobs is another massive challenge. The World Economic Forum says that although 85 million jobs may be replaced by AI, 97 million new jobs are also likely to be created. Ensuring those are distributed fairly, and that no-one is left behind, will be a defining challenge of our times.
AI as a force for good is realistic, with the right approaches. So, what are they?
THE BIG Fixes
To keep AI harnessed for good, we need a human-centric approach.
RESKILLING THE WORKFORCE
Throughout human history, big leaps in technology have benefitted some more than others. So who might AI leave behind? Reskilling must be at the top of the policy agenda for everyone to enjoy the benefits. While automation may displace millions of workers, it will also create opportunities, and some economies are more prepared than others.
The World Economic Forum has highlighted how businesses should approach the reskilling challenges. Any initiatives must help individuals to transition into AI-driven industries, such as robotics and software engineering.
While its impact in technology will be vast, it will affect every area of working life. Some 40% of jobs will be affected and inequality is likely to rise, according to the IMF.
And while technical skills in AI are crucial, organisations must not overlook the need for soft skills, such as communication and problem-finding, to ensure that human talent can thrive with other humans, as well as machines.
SET ETHICAL CONTROLS
One big worry is that the rapid development of AI is clearly outpacing the rules that govern it. Our innovators are running ahead of our legislators.
Ethical AI frameworks are already being developed by many businesses. For example, frameworks like Google’s ethical AI principles demonstrate the potential for proactivity.
But the dangers are too great to be trusted entirely to organisations whose priority is to their shareholders. Without more government understanding and involvement in this debate, the development of ethics will resemble the frontier towns of the Wild West – a sheriff with a badge but in a lawless new world.
Collaboration between governments and big tech is key for international standards. This big fix, therefore, is launching an inclusive dialogue between governments to raise awareness of the need to define where AI should or should not go. The nirvana is that trust in AI will be best delivered by clear- minded regulators informed by an engaged and consulted public.
AI FOR CLIMATE
These initiatives aim to square AI’s energy demands with sustainability. This fix is important not just for the meter readings of big tech, but also for its potential for tackling climate change. From carbon capture to biodiversity monitoring, AI’s potential for good here extends across industries. Smart grids powered by AI optimise energy distribution, while predictive modelling aids in disaster prevention and mitigation. These advancements illustrate AI’s dual role as both a climate problem and – potentially – our greatest hope for solutions.
EDUCATION FOR ALL
AI’s role in advancing human learning has already been transformative. From personalised learning tools to ethical decision- making frameworks, it helps individuals to make better choices across personal health, behaviour, and ethics. We already know how well it supports education by automating administrative tasks, but it is also important to educate students about AI itself, including how to develop AI technologies and understand their potential risks.
CLEAN POWER
Energy efficiency – and the source of that energy – in AI development is a lingering concern. Microsoft is exploring nuclear- powered data centres, while Amazon and Google are investing in small modular reactors (SMRs). This approach raises ongoing concerns about the pros and cons of nuclear, but for our AI revolution to be truly sustainable, investment in renewables is vital. Google leads the way, but its (clean) ‘power first’ approach needs broader adoption by the industry.
For AI to be sustainable, investment in renewables is vital
The great, unaddressed challenge is AI’s demand for water in data centre cooling processes. As we struggle to tackle existing water demands, this challenge will only increase without urgent attention.
ENHANCE HEALTH SCIENCE
Perhaps the greatest hope for individuals lies in AI’s impact on health It is already helping us diagnose diseases faster and more accurately. It can help us create personalised treatment plans and race through the administrative tasks that clog up health services, from scheduling to billing, and improving access to care for underserved populations by enabling remote monitoring and virtual consultations.
CASE STUDY
PROTEIN FOLDING
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for a breakthrough, using AI, in predicting the shapes of proteins. Proteins are essential for life, and understanding their 3D structure is key to understanding how they work. The prize recognises three scientists who developed methods to predict these structures from the protein’s amino acid sequence.
Between them, they designed a way to build new proteins and an AI model that’s now been used by over two million people to predict proteins’ complex structures. This discovery is important for areas like drug development and disease research, as it helps scientists understand how proteins function and interact. The work is expected to lead to new medical treatments and scientific advances in health biotechnology.
IN Action
The Conduit’s commitment
This is an issue where developments move rapidly, and the innovators are racing ahead of the legislators. Through our AI for Good programming track and editorial content, we will bring to light the challenges and solutions for ensuring that AI serves as a force for good, and produce a report on the most promising developments in the field in 2025. Our AI for Social Good Academy programme will continue to offer policy makers and concerned citizens a deep introduction to the issues around a subject that will have perhaps a greater influence on the future of humanity than any other in centuries.
