AI for Public Good

As countries across the Global South adopt emerging technologies, their differing capacities and societal priorities raise a critical question: How can ethical standards be upheld while accelerating economic and technological progress? In some states, the pursuit of “digital sovereignty” has opened the door to government misuse of AI — tools meant to serve citizens instead being used to monitor or control them. Elsewhere, more human rights-based approaches to AI governance are emerging, fostering innovation through stronger legal and ethical frameworks. As nations shape their own AI strategies, it is vital that policymakers take into account the unique socioeconomic contexts of the populations they serve. This presentation brings together RAI Fellows to explore the real-world implications of AI deployment in the public sector and how AI can be used for public good.