Sustainable Development Goal 10
This development goal aims to fight discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation and to create conditions that allow for fair, inclusive economic growth.
This represents an important step towards achieving sustainable development and a more fair, stable global economic system. Because inequality can lead to wide-ranging social, economic, and political problems, in particular in the world’s poorer regions. Consequently, SDG 10 is an important part of the international agenda for combating poverty and for improving the living conditions of people around the world.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing massive disruptions in many areas of our day-to-day lives. Not all aspects of the long-term consequences of AI’s penetration into everyday life are currently foreseeable. However, in many respects AI can contribute to overcoming discrimination and inequality and to easing access to resources and opportunities.
For instance, AI can facilitate the analysis of data-based inequalities and discrimination. By analysing large datasets, patterns can be identified and corrected, which helps to reveal inequalities and to take countermeasures. Furthermore, AI can also ease access to information, as AI tools such as chatbots can provide information cost-effectively, especially for people who live in geographically remote areas or have limited access to information from other sources.
Other opportunities for AI in terms of improvement equal opportunities include customised needs analysis in the field of healthcare (via individualised medical decision-making processes) or in education and career counselling. Ultimately, if used properly, AI can contribute to reducing discrimination by making human decisions more objective and fair, for instance by way of unprejudiced data analysis.
AI tools can help to identify and report unethical or discriminatory behavioural patterns at companies and organisations. That said, it is important that the conceptualisation and implementation of AI systems proceed in accordance with ethical guidelines, in order to prevent misuse and undesirable developments.
Insight into the key pillars of SDG 10
The UN goals for reducing inequality within and among countries, which have also been incorporated into the Austrian federal government’s 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, are presented in abridged form below:
To progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.*
To empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.*
To ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
To ensure enhanced representation for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions.
To facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.
*by 2030