Sundi King

Humanities 12

Ms. Terry

October 24, 2023

The Advantages of Artificial Intelligence in Our Growing World

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been rapidly advancing and now has the potential to make

major impacts on various aspects of our world, specifically the future of medicine and

sustainability. As the world evolves, the positive effects of AI’s influence on these subjects fill

our future with promise.

In the world of medicine, AI holds the key to revolutionizing healthcare across the globe.

With expanding growth of medical information, AI has been able to analyze huge amounts of

data giving doctors help to previously impossible questions that they weren’t able to solve. For

example “AI-enabled robots could be used to work around sensitive organs and tissues to help

reduce blood loss, infection risk and post-surgery pain,” (IMB, 2023)1. AI also has the potential

to aid disease diagnosis and treatment, some even speculate that it can bring the treatment costs

down by 40-50%. AI-powered diagnostic tools, such as image recognition and something called

natural language processing2 (which gives computers the ability to understand text and spoken

words faster) can help to more accurately identify illnesses. It can also keep track of patients’

drugs they are prescribed and make sure there is no overlap between dangerous drugs, this is a

job that most nurses and doctors have to do manually.

Outside of the medical field, AI is contributing to global sustainability efforts,

particularly in the fight against climate change. Scientists now can use AI to help understand

climate change patterns and natural disasters by giving the machine data and analytics.
Additionally, AI can also start taking over management of renewable energy sources, such as

wind and solar power, by predicting energy production and consumption patterns. This not only

reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also makes clean energy more reliable and accessible.

AI can be used to create smart low-carbon cities3. Projects like The Line are already

trying to combat climate change by making a more sustainable way of life for humanity. If we

were to integrate AI into parts of a city like transportation, energy usage, food distribution,

medicine, etc. we would be able to combat some of the main problems that we have in this world

now.

However, many people are unsettled by the presence of AI and the hold it has on us. The

leading argument is that AI is taking over jobs which leads to a higher percentage of people

getting laid off. Though this may be true companies have already been aware of this threat and

have found a solution to the problem. Reskilling is a term that is used to mean teaching

employees of a company new skills to help create a smarter business and start using AI tools in

their work space. Many big companies like Google, Verizon, Walmart, and Marriott International

have been providing their employees with access to higher education and skills training while

still working their job. This also creates a smarter workforce.

The positive effects of AI on medicine and sustainability are extensive, offering potential

solutions to some of the most pressing challenges today. However, the extent of AI's impact will

depend on our ability to use and control its potential ethically and responsibly. Addressing

concerns related to data privacy, bias, and the ethical use of AI in healthcare and environmental

monitoring will be essential to ensure that the benefits are equitably distributed and that AI

serves the best interests of society.

 In conclusion, the future of AI in medicine and sustainability holds great promise. It has

the potential to solve twelve out of the seventeen goals the United Nations have set to

accomplish by 20304, and has the Ability to improve healthcare outcomes, drive innovation in

pharmaceuticals, and significantly contribute to our global efforts to combat climate change and

protect the environment. As AI continues to evolve, the extent of its impact will depend on our

commitment to using this transformative technology for the greater good of humanity.

1. Education, I. (2023, October 3). The benefits of AI in Healthcare. IBM Blog.

https://www.ibm.com/blog/the-benefits-of-ai-in-healthcare/

2. Davenport, T., & Kalakota, R. (2019, June). The potential for artificial intelligence in Healthcare.

Future healthcare journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6616181/

3. Vinuesa, R., Azizpour, H., Leite, I. et al. The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable

Development Goals. Nat Commun 11, 233 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-14108-y

4. United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals | sustainable development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/goals