Artificial intelligence and sustainable development: technology applications and challenges

The emergence of AI technology has brought about tremendous changes in human life. The traditional ways of working and living in the past have been further optimized by AI, evolving into more advanced forms of development. In terms of sustainable development, artificial intelligence technology has shown promising prospects, paving the way for increasingly long-term and viable progress in the future. This paper adopts a combined research approach, integrating literature review, case analysis, and qualitative research, to systematically explore the technological application paths and practical challenges of artificial intelligence in the field of sustainable development. While AI provides robust technical support for sustainable development, this paper argues that it is crucial to balance efficiency improvements with ethical risks through technical iterations, upgrading human skills, and optimizing policy frameworks. By doing so, we can achieve in-depth optimization of human-machine collaboration and promote long-term, sustainable development.