Challenges of Artificial Intelligence today and future implications for society and the world

This paper examines the growing challenges artificial intelligence (AI) poses to global society now and in the foreseeable future. Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature (2019–2024), analysis of policy discourse, and emerging findings from preprints and recent reports (early 2025), the study identifies critical issues such as job displacement and labor market shifts, algorithmic bias and systemic inequities (including specific biases based on race and gender), privacy erosion and enhanced surveillance capabilities (including threats from deepfakes and cybersecurity vulnerabilities), autonomous weapons and escalating global security dilemmas, existential risks, the significant environmental costs of AI, data scarcity and lack of diverse representation, lack of transparency (opaque decision-making), and challenges posed by centralized AI infrastructure. These challenges are analyzed for their profound societal implications, including exacerbated economic inequality, complex ethical dilemmas, and tangible threats to global security and stability. A holistic framework is proposed to address these multifaceted risks, emphasizing the critical need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, the development and implementation of robust ethical governance frameworks, the widespread adoption of explainable AI (XAI) techniques, and the deliberate alignment of AI development and deployment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure equitable and sustainable global development. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations spanning policy interventions, targeted research directions, and industry best practices aimed at mitigating risks effectively and responsibly harnessing AI's transformative potential for the collective global good.