# Needs and Artificial Intelligence

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.03715 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.03715/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 8 of its 84 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Feb 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [IEEE 7010: A New Standard for Assessing the Well-being Implications of Artificial Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.06620/) (2020)
- [The social dilemma in artificial intelligence development and why we have to solve it](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.12977/) (2021)
- [Qualitative Analysis for Human Centered AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.03784/) (2021)
- [Internet of Behavior (IoB) and Explainable AI Systems for Influencing IoT Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.07239/) (2021)
- [Conversational AI Systems for Social Good: Opportunities and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.06457/) (2021)
- [Human-Centric Decision Support Tools: Insights from Real-World Design and Implementation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.05796/) (2021)
- [Needs-aware Artificial Intelligence: AI that 'serves [human] needs'](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.04977/) (2022)
- [Needmining: Designing Digital Support to Elicit Needs from Social Media](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.06146/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Throughout their history, homo sapiens have used technologies to better satisfy their needs. The relation between needs and technology is so fundamental that the US National Research Council defined the distinguishing characteristic of technology as its goal "to make modifications in the world to meet human needs". Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most promising emerging technologies of our time. Similar to other technologies, AI is expected "to meet [human] needs". In this article, we reflect on the relationship between needs and AI, and call for the realisation of needs-aware AI systems. We argue that re-thinking needs for, through, and by AI can be a very useful means towards the development of realistic approaches for Sustainable, Human-centric, Accountable, Lawful, and Ethical (HALE) AI systems. We discuss some of the most critical gaps, barriers, enablers, and drivers of co-creating future AI-based socio-technical systems in which [human] needs are well considered and met. Finally, we provide an overview of potential threats and HALE considerations that should be carefully taken into account, and call for joint, immediate, and interdisciplinary efforts and collaborations.