If AI is used responsibly, it can create significant benefits to the global arena. It can solve societal challenges and reduce climate change, and reinforce initiatives like the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement. AI can also contribute to the realization of the sustainable and development goals of the United Nations and it can play a crucial role in curbing global issues such as:

- Control of epidemics. During a global pandemic, governments’ initial objective is to minimize the spread of the disease. If AI is fed by historical data, it can recognize patterns and trends, and then via predictive analysis, it can lead to necessary measures to eliminate the spread of the virus. AI can also be used to accelerate the development of vaccines related to viruses.

- Management and control of pollution. Pollution is a global challenge that concerns all countries around the world. AI can be used for the protection of the environment and pollution control. More specifically, AI systems contribute to the detection of energy emission reductions, the removal of CO2, the monitoring and prediction of extreme weather conditions, and support the development of greener transportation networks.

- Global food crisis prevention. According to the United Nations, 840 million people might be affected by hunger by 2030 . Research has shown that with the combination of smart agriculture and machine learning, this number could be significantly reduced. AI-based solutions can create systems that warn governments on food shortages and prepare them for better food supply and management. AI solutions can also help farmers to produce more food with less land. For example, AI-enabled operations are estimated to use roughly 90% less water and produce over 20 times more food per acre than traditional fields .

- Water pollution management. UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 seeks to ensure that people have access to clean water and adequate sanitation services worldwide. AI can be used to reduce pollutants in the water and detect the amount and composition of toxic contaminants. AI can also increase the efficiency of waste management systems.

For businesses, AI can enable important sectors such as tourism, construction, agriculture, green and circular economy. It can also improve the quality of products, increase production levels, and contribute to energy savings. For example:

- When a customer service representative from a hotel is not available, AI bots may respond to customers’ questions and provide useful information.

- In the construction sector, AI can improve project efficiency and the safety of workers in construction sites.

- Smart farming is helping the agriculture sector to be more profitable. AI-powered mechanisms can monitor aspects such as grain mass flow, the quality of harvested grains, and moisture content.

- AI in combination with intelligent grid systems and deep predictive capabilities can manage the demand and supply of renewable energy.

To conclude, AI has a huge potential to benefit societies and boost many sectors of the economy. However, governments need to ensure that AI prioritizes humans, reinforce human’s trust, protect human rights, and promote creativity and empathy. Policymakers should create a global dialogue, explain, educate, and boost transparency of AI, adapt training and education curricula to the new Artificial Intelligence society, and promote, develop and encourage the public and private sectors to adopt human-centered and trustworthy AI.