Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review in Information Systems

Abstract

Objective: It is vital to investigate how technologies benefit or impair sustainable development. This review aimed to provide updated literature on Artificial Intelligence (AI), in explicit connection with sustainability.   Theoretical Framework: This article performs a systematic literature review of information systems (IS) journals on AI employment in promoting sustainable development (SD).   Method: Among 331 articles, 97 have been identified in the Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2017 to 2022 focusing on the AI use for environmental, economic, legal political, organizational, and social development.   Results and Discussion: According to the findings, the identified areas of interest and respective papers were associated with the corresponding concepts and summarized. These studies point to the role of AI in supporting decision-making and reveal research avenues in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and SD. The authors also propose a framework correlating the concepts with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research were discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of ICTs and SD.   Originality/Value: The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by highlighting the contributions research in the IS field has made regarding AI for SD since 2017. As a step forward in this literature review, the authors suggest a research agenda for the IS field.