AI chatbot promoting sustainability

AI Chatbots for Good: Can Tech Boost Sustainable Development Goals?

Lena Voss in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how AI-powered chatbots are transforming communication strategies to promote sustainability and drive action towards global goals."

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 interconnected global objectives adopted by the United Nations in 2015, represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Achieving these ambitious goals requires more than just policy changes and technological advancements; it demands a fundamental shift in human behavior and widespread public engagement. Effective communication is key to inspiring this change.

Enter AI-powered chatbots. These sophisticated tools are emerging as powerful allies in the quest for sustainability, offering innovative ways to communicate and engage with individuals on critical issues. By leveraging the principles of motivational interviewing and other persuasive communication techniques, AI chatbots can help raise awareness, spark interest, and motivate action towards the SDGs.

Recent research explores the effectiveness of different communication styles in AI chatbots, specifically comparing 'Motivational Interviewing' (MI) and 'Directing Style' (DS) in conversations about the SDGs. The findings reveal that MI, a collaborative and empathetic approach, is more effective in fostering engagement and interest compared to the more assertive and directive DS. This suggests that the way information is presented can significantly impact how people respond to sustainability messages.

Motivational Interviewing vs. Directing Style: What Works Best?

The study, which involved participants engaging in conversations with AI chatbots, measured engagement levels, self-reported interest, and learning outcomes. The chatbots were programmed to use either motivational interviewing (MI) or a directing style (DS) when discussing the SDGs. Motivational interviewing focuses on guiding individuals to explore their own reasons for change, using empathy and reflective listening to build intrinsic motivation. Directing style, on the other hand, involves providing clear instructions and guidance, taking a more active role in shaping the conversation.

The results indicated a clear advantage for motivational interviewing in certain areas:

Engagement: Participants in the MI group wrote more words during the conversation, indicating a higher level of engagement.
Interest: Those interacting with the MI chatbot reported a greater increase in their interest in sustainability topics.
Learning: While MI proved superior on engagement and interest, no significant difference in learning outcomes was observed between the two styles.

These findings suggest that while both communication styles can impart knowledge, the collaborative and empathetic nature of MI is more effective in capturing attention and sparking genuine interest. This is particularly important for complex issues like sustainability, where emotional connection and personal relevance can drive action.

The Future of AI in Sustainability Communication

As AI technology continues to evolve, the potential for AI-powered chatbots to promote sustainability and drive action towards the SDGs is immense. By leveraging the power of personalized and engaging communication, these tools can help bridge the gap between awareness and action, empowering individuals to make informed choices and contribute to a more sustainable future. Further research into optimizing chatbot design and communication strategies will be crucial in unlocking the full potential of AI for good.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2407.01057,

Title: Ai-Powered Chatbots: Effective Communication Styles For Sustainable Development Goals

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Ennio Bilancini, Leonardo Boncinelli, Eugenio Vicario

Published: 01-07-2024

Everything You Need To Know

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and why are they important?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015. They represent a universal call to action to address pressing global challenges. These challenges include ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity for all people by 2030. Achieving the SDGs requires shifts in human behavior, policy changes, and technological advancements. Effective communication is crucial to inspire change and drive progress toward these ambitious goals.

How do AI-powered chatbots contribute to promoting sustainability?

AI-powered chatbots are emerging as valuable tools for promoting sustainability by transforming communication strategies. These chatbots use persuasive communication techniques, like motivational interviewing, to increase awareness, spark interest, and motivate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They provide innovative ways to engage with individuals on critical issues, bridging the gap between awareness and action, empowering informed choices, and contributing to a more sustainable future.

What is the difference between Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Directing Style (DS) in AI chatbots?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Directing Style (DS) are two different communication approaches used by AI chatbots. MI is a collaborative and empathetic method that focuses on guiding individuals to explore their reasons for change, using empathy and reflective listening to build intrinsic motivation. Directing Style (DS), on the other hand, provides clear instructions and guidance, taking a more active role in shaping the conversation. Research indicates that MI is more effective in fostering engagement and interest in sustainability topics when compared to DS.

In what ways did the research comparing Motivational Interviewing and Directing Style in chatbots demonstrate different outcomes?

The study comparing Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Directing Style (DS) in chatbots revealed notable differences. Participants interacting with MI chatbots showed higher engagement levels, writing more words during conversations. They also reported a greater increase in their interest in sustainability topics. While both styles delivered knowledge, MI's collaborative nature proved superior in capturing attention and sparking genuine interest, which is important for complex issues like sustainability where emotional connection and personal relevance drive action.

How might AI chatbots evolve in the future to further support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

As AI technology continues to evolve, the potential for AI-powered chatbots to promote sustainability and drive action towards the SDGs is immense. Future developments will likely involve optimizing chatbot design and communication strategies, leveraging the power of personalized and engaging communication. This includes further refining techniques like Motivational Interviewing to better bridge the gap between awareness and action. By focusing on how individuals receive and process information, AI can empower informed choices and contribute significantly to a more sustainable future.