The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Poverty Alleviation during the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Abstract

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) unfolds, artificial intelligence’s (AI) ability to address global challenges emerges. Society can bridge socioeconomic gaps, empower marginalized communities, and foster inclusive growth by leveraging AI techniques. This research aimed to explore the impact of AI on mitigating poverty in different domains. The findings indicated that AI has significant potential to address poverty by enhancing processes like gathering pertinent data via poverty mapping, transforming education, modernizing agriculture, improving healthcare, and advancing the finance sector. Some researchers use satellite images to map and identify regions with more concentrated poverty. Researchers are also using different robotics and AI programs to produce agricultural AI programs to improve farming through crop yield production, scarcity-prone area detection, and disease detection. This chapter suggests that governmental bodies and private organizations combating poverty should invest in and integrate AI due to its manifold advantages in addressing poverty during the 4IR. Thus, this chapter recommends that the government and other private organizations trying to wage war against poverty should invest in AI and adopt it because it presents many benefits in alleviating poverty.