Global Health and AI in 2024: Business Imperatives and Societal Implications

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and global health in 2024 highlights profound questions about equity, power, and the future of public health. In this paper, the authors examine the implications of AI in healthcare through the lens of the Global South. With multinational corporations at the helm, AI advancements are frequently driven by profit motives, leading to a disparity between corporate interests and public health needs, especially in under-resourced regions.

As AI continues to develop predominantly in languages such as English, Western European, and Chinese, its accessibility and relevance to diverse global populations are limited. This not only restricts the technology’s potential reach but also raises questions about whose interests are being served. With AI applications concentrated in wealthier nations, there is an urgent need to ask whose voices define the principles underpinning AI's role in global health—and how these principles align with the broader concept of the public good.

While AI holds significant promise for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is essential to critically evaluate which principles are prioritized and who decides on these priorities. Engage-AI emphasizes the need for ethical responsibility, global collaboration, and a commitment to equity. However, the reality remains that current AI development often overlooks local needs, perpetuating inequalities rather than alleviating them.

This paper calls for a more inclusive and reflective approach to AI governance in global health, where diverse stakeholders can contribute to defining public health priorities. By ensuring that AI development is guided by principles that genuinely reflect the needs of all communities, we can create a more balanced and sustainable future. In doing so, this paper invites a reassessment of AI’s societal role, emphasizing the need to define the public good in a way that transcends national and corporate boundaries.

Authors: Hasan Shanawani, VA; Emad Tinawi, Engage-AI.org