Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism

Elizabeth Lee; Tan Seng Teck; Mohd Rushidi; Chee How Liau; Pradeep Sonar

doi:10.29333/ejosdr/19643

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Elizabeth Lee ¹ ^* , Tan Seng Teck ¹ , Mohd Rushidi ¹ , Chee How Liau ² , Pradeep Sonar ³

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¹ INTI International University Malaysia, MALAYSIA² Lecturer in Marketing, Danford Higher Education, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA³ Parul University Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Humans have keen interests with artificial objects. We consume food and drinks containing artificial coloring while FIFA approves the use of artificial turf for football matches. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has gripped the world with its radical changes, triggering not only physical, but also philosophical implications. In this paper, we explore the impact of AI on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pose the question of whether the human centrality of the SDGs could diminish with the introduction of AI. Drawing on Kant’s concept of universalism and categorical imperatives, we argue that AI cannot safeguard intergenerational justice or meet Kant’s definition of a rational being. This paper presents a brief yet significant perspective, emphasizing the need for caution when integrating AI into the implementation of the SDGs, particularly concerning policy design.

Keywords

artificial intelligence
SDGs
Kantianism
economic growth

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Review Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2027, Article No: em0443

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

Publication date: 01 Jan 2027

Online publication date: 20 Oct 2026

Article Views: 7

Article Downloads: 5

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How to cite this article

APA

Lee, E., Teck, T. S., Rushidi, M., Liau, C. H., & Sonar, P. (2027). Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 11(1), em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

Vancouver

Lee E, Teck TS, Rushidi M, Liau CH, Sonar P. Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism. EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES. 2027;11(1):em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

AMA

Lee E, Teck TS, Rushidi M, Liau CH, Sonar P. Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism. EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES. 2027;11(1), em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

Chicago

Lee, Elizabeth, Tan Seng Teck, Mohd Rushidi, Chee How Liau, and Pradeep Sonar. "Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism". European Journal of Sustainable Development Research 2027 11 no. 1 (2027): em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

Harvard

Lee, E., Teck, T. S., Rushidi, M., Liau, C. H., and Sonar, P. (2027). Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 11(1), em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643

MLA

Lee, Elizabeth et al. "Artificial intelligence and SDGs, a friend or foe: A perspective of Kantianism". European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, vol. 11, no. 1, 2027, em0443. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/19643