SPEAKERS
| Prof. Yilei Shao Dean & Professor, Shanghai AI-Finance School, East China Normal University – Session Chair | Nanfu Wen Shanghai AI-Finance School, East China Normal Universit |
DESCRIPTION
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is catalyzing a profound restructuring of global economic systems, inaugurating the Silicon Economy where data, computation, and algorithms emerge as principal production factors. While AI accelerates technological progress and opens new dimensions of innovation, it simultaneously risks deepening global disparities in resource access, capability distribution, and economic opportunity. Effectively addressing these structural shifts is critical to shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.
As AI-driven innovations redefine the foundations of production and value creation, financial systems are undergoing parallel and profound transformations. Financial mechanisms increasingly serve not only as conduits for economic expansion but also as strategic instruments for mitigating inequalities, enhancing resilience, and guiding resources toward sustainable development objectives. The integration of AI technologies into financial architectures is reshaping how capital is mobilized, risks are assessed, and financial inclusion is pursued across diverse economies.
Within this evolving landscape, technology finance, green finance, and inclusive finance—each empowered by AI—represent essential pathways to redistribute resources, correct systemic imbalances, and foster sustainable development. Technology finance channels investments into scientific and technological innovation, facilitating advancements that underpin future economic resilience. Green finance leverages AI to enhance the identification, verification, and monitoring of environmentally sustainable projects, thereby improving the credibility and scalability of climate action initiatives. Inclusive finance utilizes AI to expand access to financial services in underserved regions, promoting broader economic participation and reducing structural inequalities.
However, significant disparities persist among countries in AI infrastructure readiness, technical talent reserves, access to data-driven financial services, and the long-term sustainability of financial ecosystems. If left unaddressed, these asymmetries may reinforce existing inequalities, limit the diffusion of technological benefits, and undermine the broader objectives of inclusive and sustainable growth. Additionally, systemic risks such as algorithmic bias, data monopolization, and the concentration of AI-enabled financial power pose further challenges to achieving fair and sustainable outcomes.
Moreover, while AI introduces significant efficiencies in financial operations, its application can drive decision-making convergence across institutions—reducing strategic diversity and potentially amplifying systemic vulnerabilities. Furthermore, algorithmic models trained on biased or homogeneous data may inadvertently marginalize minority cultures and ethnic groups.
The strategic integration of AI and finance is essential for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through intelligent deployment within technology finance, green finance, and inclusive finance, AI can drive innovation, mitigate inequality, and align economic activity with global sustainability imperatives. Future research and policy initiatives should focus on reinforcing financial governance structures and fostering international collaboration to ensure that AI contributes effectively to collective progress and global sustainable development.
