Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Decisions

Abstract

When addressing corporate sustainability challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword. AI can make significant progress on the most complicated environmental and social problems faced by humans. On the other hand, the efficiencies and innovations generated by AI may also bring new risks, such as automated bias and conflicts with human ethics. We argue that companies and governments should make collective efforts to address sustainability challenges and risks brought by AI. Accountable and sustainable AI can be achieved through a proactive regulatory framework supported by rigorous corporate policies and reports. Given the rapidly evolving nature of this technology, we propose a harmonised and risk-based regulatory approach that accommodates diverse AI solutions to achieve the common good. Ensuring an adequate level of technological neutrality and proportionality of the regulation is the key to mitigating the wide range of potential risks inherent to the use of AI. Instead of promoting sustainability, unregulated AI would be a threat since it would not be possible to effectively monitor its effects on the economy, society and environment. Such a suitable regulatory framework would not only create a consensus concerning the risks to avoid and how to do so but also include enforcement mechanisms to ensure a trustworthy and ethical use of AI in the boardroom. Once this objective is achieved, it will be possible to refer to this technological development as a common good in itself that constitutes an essential asset to human development.