Rethinking the Role of Technology for Development in the AI Era: From AI4D to Smart ICT4D

Rethinking the Role of Technology for Development in the AI Era: From AI4D to Smart ICT4D
  IJETT-book-cover           
  
© 2025 by IJETT Journal
Volume-73 Issue-5
Year of Publication : 2025
Author : Driss Kettani, Bernard Moulin
DOI : 10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V73I5P112

How to Cite?
Driss Kettani, Bernard Moulin, "Rethinking the Role of Technology for Development in the AI Era: From AI4D to Smart ICT4D," International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, vol. 73, no. 5, pp.124-136, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V73I5P112

Abstract
During the past decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been widely praised for its presumably “immense” potential to support and stimulate development. Several acronyms and related initiatives and/or research networks have emerged, consequently, to accompany this hype, such as AI for Good, AI for the Poor and AI for Development (AI4D). This enthusiasm for AI assumes that AI complies with the distinctive features of projects developed in the context of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). Moreover, it is implicitly assumed that AI has a particular added value for development that is not found in the other technologies used in ICT4D. As shown in this paper, it is neither relevant nor sound to use acronyms that, a priori, exhibit the specific type of technology (AI) as THE means to support and/or stimulate development. This is misleading and against the fundamentals of Technology for Development. It is shown, as well, that most defining features of current AI are not compatible with the Development context, and that AI may even compromise the development goals and perspectives of developing countries. As an alternative, we propose a new vision, called Smart-ICT4D, which allows for to fully benefit of AI within the vision and mission of ICT4D. By ricochet, the goal of this paper is to help policy and decision makers, especially in developing countries, to ponder all factors related to the use of AI, and to embrace a wider perspective in elaborating and sustaining the national digital transformation strategies of their respective countries.

Keywords
Development, Technology for development, ICT4D, Sustainable Development Goals, Artificial Intelligence, AI4D.

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