1 October 2026 - Recent weeks, including at the opening of the UN General Assembly, have seen intensifying debates about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How do we make sure that it is powered for good and in the service of humanity? One such AI tool – the SDG Chat – has just been launched to make reliable sustainable development information more accessible to people around the world. This innovative platform offers a wealth of trusted data and resources produced by UN DESA on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its goal: help accelerate action towards their delivery.
“This initiative demonstrates the United Nations’ commitment to the responsible use of AI and to delivering on the promise of the SDGs,” said Li Junhua, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General. “If more people can access reliable expertise, make better-informed decisions, and engage more effectively in advancing sustainable development, it is our hope that ultimately, the SDG Chat will help us accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The new SDG Chat was developed to make it easier for policymakers, researchers, students, civil society organizations and the wider public to find reliable information on the SDGs through a single, intuitive gateway. Instead of having to search across multiple websites, publications and data platforms, users now can type in their questions about global development challenges and opportunities, and receive instant answers grounded in authoritative UN DESA content.
The chatbot draws from more than 800 UN publications, and UN DESA departmental and divisional websites. SDG Chat is not meant to replace expertise or official publications. Rather, it serves as a trusted entryway that helps users quickly find relevant information from UN DESA faster, while encouraging deeper engagement with original reports, data, and resources. It can also provide answers in all six UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), making UN DESA’s trusted SDG knowledge more accessible to its intended global audience.
This initiative also serves as a good example of how public-private partnerships can work together towards achieving the SDGs. By combining innovation with human oversight, transparency, and reliance on authoritative sources, UN DESA developed this AI powered tool in close collaboration with the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) and Accenture. Each of the three partners played an important role: UN DESA led the business vision and knowledge curation; OICT provided strategic guidance on the responsible use of AI; and Accenture contributed technical expertise through collaboration.
“This marks an important milestone in UN DESA’s digital transformation,” said Lisa Morrison, Acting Head of UN DESA’s Strategic Planning and Communication Services. “SDG Chat improves access to complex information, and it has the potential to broaden SDG engagement and support more informed decision-making. It also demonstrates how generative AI can responsibly enhance access to trusted UN knowledge.”
What do you want to know about the Sustainable Development Goals? Start using the SDG Chat by going to https://desapublications.un.org/, clicking the SDG Chat logo and typing your questions.
