Paolo Nardi will present an ecosystem map of the AI industry and explain their relationship to sustainable development. He will go deeper into the current status of the AI ecosystem and explore how AI practitioners, organisations, and society at large is approaching sustainability related issues when developing AI solutions.

Today humanity sits at the intersection of two major drivers of change: sustainable development and artificial intelligence. The former aimed at promoting the creation of a sustainable world where the economy, environment and society are balanced in such a way as to meet the sustainable development goals set out by the United Nations. The latter being a powerful technological tool that acts as a double-edged sword.

On one hand, AI can create unprecedented innovations, economic growth, and serve as a game changer for the pursuit of sustainable development. On the other hand, AI solutions can unintentionally harm the very people they are supposed to help, increase inequality and inhibit sustainable development. To ensure the latter doesn't occur, it's important that we understand how practitioners and organizations working with the technology are developing it, and the drivers of the AI industry.

During this talk Paolo Nardi will present an ecosystem map of the AI industry and explain their relationship to sustainable development.

The things we will explore are the following:

• Motivation and values from AI practitioners and organizations
• Design and development process of AI solutions
• How collaborations occurs in the AI industry
• What practitioners perceive to be the challenges and improvements needed for AI
• Current regulations that affect the development process of AI solutions and how practitioners are working with it.
• The perceived Impact and effects of AI solutions

This talk is based on the master thesis for the Leadership for Sustainability Master program at Malmo University that Paolo Nardi, alongside his thesis partner Kevalin (Keeva) Saksiamkul, conducted. The study provided a basic understanding of the factors that affect AI practitioners and how those factors align and conflict with sustainable values and design philosophies.

About the Speaker:

Paolo Nardi is the Co-founder and Sustainability Innovation Fusionist at Futurely AB. He is also a Guest Lecturer and Student Assistant at Malmo University. He is a member of the Global Shapers Community, a community of young people driving dialogue, action and change. He graduated with Masters of Leadership for Sustainability and holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering.