Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Human Development: Integrating Humanities, Education, and Intelligent Information Systems

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the landscape of education, research, healthcare, public decision making and sustainability practice at a fast pace, but the impact of AI on human development cannot be measured solely by technical outcomes. This article discusses how humanities, education and intelligent information systems can be incorporated into a human-centred AI to make a difference in sustainable human development. It reviews and amalgamates research from the last few years on cultural values, fairness, trust, AI literacy, generative AI, assessment reform, digital sustainability, interpretable systems, climate action, and healthcare applications. Contingency of AI's capacity and human judgment, along with cultural meaning and pedagogical intent, institutional accountability and environmental preferences, are important factors in creating social value, the analysis argues. The value-oriented and interpretation-based approach of Humanities is the basis for understanding the meaning and agency, ethical, and cultural diversity aspects of using AI; the critical literacy and adaptive capabilities developed in the process of education are the basis for using AI responsibly; and the intelligent information systems unite data and computational resources into practical support for learning, governance, health, research, sustainability. The article proposes a multi-faceted understanding of AI as a socio-technical system that needs to be inclusive, accountable, transparent, monitored by humans and have a long-term public purpose. Development of AI should therefore complement and extend the capacities of humanity and ensure equitable, resilient and environmentally-friendly social progress in diverse learning, institutional, cultural and developmental environments in the world.