How often do we link terms like data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning with futuristic advancement, such as highly sophisticated robots and space ships as public transport? Why do we not associate them with a greener area, cleaner air, or flourishing biodiversity? Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI are enabling humanity to harness information and data to revolutionise education, energy, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and many other service areas. AI helps us makes the world a better place, from traffic management in urban mobility to enhancing the efficiency of renewable energies to predict crop needs and other innovative solutions in smart agriculture. AI is becoming a key tool for facilitating a circular economy and building smart cities that use their resources efficiently.

The intensive fires in the Amazon, the rapid melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and continued loss of biodiversity all illustrate that our planet is changing at a dangerous pace. At the same time, we are entering a period of unprecedented technological change. Artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with sensor technology and robotics are likely to change the way we all perceive and respond to social and environmental changes. How can we ensure that applications of artificial intelligence help us address these urgent challenges? On Oct. 15, Princeton University joined representatives from U.S. and Swedish academia, Swedish government, Google, Ericsson, USAID, U.N. Development Programme and U.N. Global Pulse, to launch a project that will explore how applications of artificial intelligence can help accelerate innovations in line with targets set by the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

The intensive fires in the Amazon, the rapid melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and continued loss of biodiversity all illustrate that our planet is changing at a dangerous pace. At the same time, we are entering a period of unprecedented technological change. Artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with sensor technology and robotics are likely to change the way we all perceive and respond to social and environmental changes. How can we ensure that applications of artificial intelligence help us address these urgent challenges? On Oct. 15, Princeton University joined representatives from U.S. and Swedish academia, Swedish government, Google, Ericsson, USAID, U.N. Development Programme, and U.N. Global Pulse, to launch a project that will explore how applications of artificial intelligence can help accelerate innovations in line with targets set by the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

"If we properly incorporate artificial intelligence, we can achieve a revolution with regard to sustainability. AI will be the driving force of the fourth industrial revolution," says Hendrik Fink, head of Sustainability Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Germany's largest auditing and consulting company. His comment aptly describes the opportunities opened up by new technical developments. In business, for example, it is now common to use systems that analyze and intelligently interpret meaningful data, with one application being the optimization of work and manufacturing processes. In the future, moreover, it will also be in the interest of small and medium-sized businesses to pay attention to sustainability and environmental issues.