The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations serve as a beacon of hope in the world.

This story started in 2015, when 17 major initiatives that serve as a worldwide call to action came into being. By the year 2030, this global effort aims to eradicate poverty, safeguard the future of our planet, and foster prosperity for all people.

These objectives, which include eradicating hunger, attaining gender equality and climate harmony, providing quality education, and more, provide a roadmap for a just and sustainable society.

Thanks to their interconnection, these SDGs transcend national boundaries, bringing together organizations, enterprises, and people in the pursuit for improvement. The SDGs encourage people to work together, hold each other accountable, and create a lasting legacy for future generations.

Kinfolk is interested in exploring how AI has accelerated the effort and positively impacted the United Nations SDGs. We intend to examine some specific SDGs in different article series. Join us as we embark on this exploration. In this article, we delve into how SDG 1, No Poverty, has been positively impacted by Artificial Intelligence.

Leveraging AI for SDG 1: No Poverty

We all know AI is everywhere, serving as an assistant in all sectors. The government, numerous organizations, and policymakers all leverage AI-powered analytics to gain valuable insights. The inclusion of AI as an acceleration for SDG 1 has achieved the following:

Identified Poverty-Stricken Regions and Populations: Through advanced data analysis and machine learning algorithms, AI is used to identify patterns and trends indicative of poverty, providing an accurate and real-time assessment of poverty-stricken regions and vulnerable populations.

AI-powered analytics is also being used to leverage vast datasets from various sources, including satellite imagery, socio-economic indicators, and demographic information, enabling targeted interventions and resource allocation to areas that need them the most.

Optimized Social Welfare Programs: Social welfare programs have been in existence since time immemorial but have now been reimagined through AI's lens. Because of AI, gaps and potential fraud are identified, and the once-strained chorus of welfare is currently harmonious, ensuring that resources are harnessed efficiently and targeting hearts and minds that yearn for aid.

Driven Financial Inclusion Initiatives: Every individual needs different financial guidance, especially underserved populations. This is how AI-driven technologies are reshaping financial inclusion efforts, by using AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants to offer personalized financial guidance to individuals with limited access to traditional banking services.

Artificial Intelligence promotes empowerment, enabling access to microloans and financial products for marginalized communities and ultimately empowering them to improve their economic circumstances.

Case Studies of Successful AI Interventions

Kinfolk is interested in these programs, providing insights and support where we can. One of them is to share our research with you. These schemes mentioned below are just three out of the numerous successful AI interventions for SDG 1.

India's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Program: The Indian government leveraged AI to streamline the delivery of welfare benefits through the DBT program, successfully eliminating fraudulent claims, reaching millions of beneficiaries directly, and reducing leakages in the system.

Kenya's M-PESA Mobile Payment System: AI-based algorithms analyze mobile money transaction data to assess credit risk and provide micro-loans to unbanked individuals. This initiative has significantly improved financial inclusion, enabling small business owners and farmers to access much-needed capital.

Brazilian Citywide Poverty Mapping: Brazil utilized AI-powered analytics to map poverty distribution across the city. This data-driven approach helped city officials develop targeted social welfare programs and urban development plans to uplift impoverished communities.

Understanding AI and Its Impact on the SDGs

AI aligns with the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. Economically, AI drives innovation, productivity, and economic growth by streamlining processes, optimizing operations, and enabling the creation of new products and services.

Socially, AI has the potential to enhance access to education, healthcare, and other essential services, reducing inequalities and improving the overall quality of life.

Environmental sustainability, through AI, optimizes energy usage, predicts climate changes, and supports ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.

Conclusion

To conclude our research, we can agree that AI's positive impact on SDG 1, No Poverty, is undeniable. AI has successfully amplified governments, organizations, NGOs, and communities with the tools to create more effective poverty eradication strategies. It is a transformative technology with far-reaching implications for various industries and aspects of human life.