Artificial Intelligence for Social Sustainability in the Digital Literacy

Abstract

Artificial intelligence by analyzing macro-social levels and social sustainability can shed light on how it affects processes such as socialization, education, training, employment, communication, leisure and work. Furthermore, the impact of artificial intelligence on social sustainability is a critical concern. The concept of social sustainability has been hard to define, and instead, many discipline-specific descriptions have addressed various aspects depending on the context in which they appear. Although sustainability is usually understood as having three dimensions: the environment, society, and the economy, the debate on sustainable artificial intelligence so far is characterized by a narrow focus on the environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence. It is argued that the debate on sustainable artificial intelligence should not only be about environmental costs, but also incorporate social and economic concerns. Digital literacy, understood in its epistemic, ethical, and political dimensions, enables critical agency in algorithmically mediated environments. Through a structured analysis of current literature and policy perspectives, the article highlights the need for inclusive, situated, and interdisciplinary educational strategies that empower citizens to participate. More precisely, the article shows that artificial intelligence’s environmental impact is often connected to important social and economic issues. Through an analysis of existing literature on the sustainability of artificial intelligence, it is demonstrated that ethical and philosophical arguments about the importance of considering the environmental costs of artificial intelligence apply just as well to the social and economic dimensions of artificial intelligence development. It has been described as a double-edged sword, embodying both significant risks and promises for human society when viewed in relation to the social dimension of the sustainability development goals (SDGs) proclaimed in the Agenda 2030.