Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Poverty Reduction in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

Abstract

Though the share of the world population living in extreme poverty declined to 10 percent in 2015, from 16 percent in 2010 and 36 percent in 1990, data shows that the world is not on track in achieving the target of less than 3 percent of people living in extreme poverty by 2030. Hence the study sought to investigate the influence of AI on poverty reduction. Using content analysis one of the unobtrusive research techniques, the study found out that, the availability of relevant data is making AI be able to deliver value to humanity and AI has a strong influence on poverty in areas of relevant data collection through poverty maps, its ability to revolutionize agriculture, education, and the financial sector through digital financial inclusion. The study also discovered that many countries especially developing nations are not collecting as much data to identify the number of poor people and the regions where these people are located. However, the existence of AI is assisting to change this, or instance the study discovered that the research team at Stanford University is using satellite images to provide an alternative to map poverty, to identify the regions where poverty is more concentrated. Also, various robotics and AI programs such as Google and Stanford University’s Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence Lab, are coming forth with AI programs in agriculture which are doing a lot to improve farming, through the identification of diseases, prediction of crop yields, and location of areas prone to a scarcity among several other notable signs of progress in education. Therefore, the study recommends that governments, development institutions and other organizations that are striving to fight poverty to invest more in AI as well as adopting and scaling up its use as it presents benefits in the quest to ensure that poverty is reduced.

Searching for inclusive artificial intelligence for social good: Participatory governance and policy recommendations for making AI more inclusive and benign for society

“…While governments might have different time frames and alternative AI policy objectives, the uptake of AI has been considered one of the key strategies to promote future competitiveness and resolve future societal challenges concerning economic growth as well as noneconomic issues, such as poverty, sustainability, health, and human well‐being in both developed and developing countries. For example, algorithm‐based systems have been developed and applied to identify areas in which shortages of agricultural products are expected, and to help governments take preventive actions to eradicate poverty in developing countries (Bennington‐Castro, 7; Mhlanga, 2020).…”

“…AI technologies have also advanced smart farming decisions, for example, in crop breeding and crop management, as shown in the FarmView project; this project helps in choosing crops, such as sorghum, that are best suited for certain geographical locations in many Asian and African developing countries (Bennington‐Castro, 2017; Schmidt, 2019). AI has also been widely used to map poverty, for example, at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, which initially worked for the UNICEF Innovation and Thinking Machine, a Philippines‐based start‐up (Bush, 2019; Mhlanga, 2020).…”

Artificial intelligence as Revolutionary Era in Handling Financial Burden in Education Field-A Meta-Analysis Based Study

“…Step 8: Analytical findings The finding from the selected study indicated that artificial intelligence has a greater impact the human life in the revolutionary era (Mhlanga, 2020). This is because it is a composite of identifying the potential benefits based on reducing the harm to intro visual life especially related to stress and negative carbonate thoughts (Rachmadtullah et al, 2020).…”

“…It also indicated that artificial intelligence is highly functional in different educational domains identifying the different disciplines has their own policies theories and practical's (Mosteanu, 2020). Therefore, the artificial intelligence provides every new information based on validity (Mhlanga, 2020).…”

Determinants of Financial Inclusion in Southern Africa

“…It is important to highlight that direct access and use of financial resources is not only the avenue through which financial inclusion can benefit people, but there are other indirect benefits associated with financial inclusion like consumption smoothening and being cushioned from shocks like natural disasters and other economics challenges (Cámara andTuesta, 2018, Chibba, 2009). Empirically, scholars believe financial inclusion should be embraced as a complement to traditional ways of addressing social challenges like poverty and inequality (Chibba 2009, Mhlanga 2020a, Mhlanga 2020b.…”