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Public Perception of Artificial Intelligence and Its Connections to the Sustainable Development Goals

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  • Shin-Cheng Yeh

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan)

  • Ai-Wei Wu

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan)

  • Hui-Ching Yu

    (Department of Food & Beverage Management, Cheng-Shiu University, Kaohsiung City 83347, Taiwan)

  • Homer C. Wu

    (Graduate Program of Sustainable Tourism & Recreation Management, National Taichung University of Education, Taichung 40359, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Ping Kuo

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan)

  • Pei-Xuan Chen

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan)

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not just change our lives but bring about revolutionary transformation. AI can augment efficiencies of good and bad things and thus has been considered both an opportunity and risk for the sustainable development of humans. This study designed a survey to collect 1018 samples of educated people with access to the internet in Taiwan regarding their perceptions of AI and its connections to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The respondents showed high confidence in their AI knowledge. They had a very positive attitude toward AI but at the same time thought AI was risky. In general, people in Taiwan could be “rational optimists” regarding AI. We also examined how people think of the linkages between AI and the SDGs and found that SDG 4, SDG 9, and SDG 3 had the highest “synergy” and lowest rates of “trade-off”. Significant differences for some key questions were also identified concerning the demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and college major. According to the data analysis, education played as the base to construct a sustainable AI-aided town with an embedded innovative circular economy and high-quality water and energy services, making the residents live healthier lives. The findings of this study can be referred to when the perceptions of AI and sustainability issues are of interest for an emerging high-tech economy such as Taiwan and other Asian countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Shin-Cheng Yeh & Ai-Wei Wu & Hui-Ching Yu & Homer C. Wu & Yi-Ping Kuo & Pei-Xuan Chen, 2021. "Public Perception of Artificial Intelligence and Its Connections to the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-34, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9165-:d:615174
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