AI-Prosperity Alignment: A Pathway to a Flourishing Future

Dr. Putthiphan Hirunyatrakul

When we think of AI and prosperity, we often imagine technology simply solving problems: quick fixes to big challenges. But what if the real potential lies deeper? In this blog I explore AI-Prosperity Alignment, a new approach that goes beyond using AI for social good, but to rethink the very essence of AI and prosperity to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.

Why Alignment?

Conversations around “AI for Good” often focus on how AI can fix societal challenges. Given our focus on prosperity, it might seem logical to call “AI for Prosperity.” Yet, framing AI “for” something risks implying a one-way influence where AI merely acts upon prosperity. In reality, prosperity thinking can and should shape AI development just as much as AI can elevate our collective visions of flourishing (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Relationship between AI and Prosperity

Underlying Values

At the heart of AI-Prosperity Alignment are three key values:

1.      Technological democracy: Inspired by philosopher Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of technology, this principle emphasises our collective ability to shape technology democratically. AI doesn’t have to be an unstoppable force; communities can - and should - participate actively in its governance.

2.      Social emancipation: Prosperity must go beyond superficial empowerment. AI should redistribute power, knowledge, and resources, helping marginalised groups shape technology rather than adapt passively to it.

3.      Ecological mindfulness: Prosperity must include sustainability. From data centres’ water consumption to resource-intensive hardware production, AI must reckon openly with its ecological footprint. Aligning prosperity and AI means guiding the industry towards genuinely sustainable practices.

In short, this framework envisions AI as an enabling power for social emancipation, ecological sustainability, and multivocal governance.

Alignment in Action: Self, Society, Sustainability

Not every AI system is mission-oriented, which makes AI-Prosperity Alignment particularly relevant for initiatives focused on social or environmental well-being, often referred to as AI for Social Good (AI4SG).

Often anchored toward achieving the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals, AI-Prosperity Alignment enriches these efforts by asking “how” change is realized, not just “what” changes occur. This approach can be summarized by the 3S:

·       Self – Enhance capabilities while also striving to equalize opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

·       Society – Encourage novel and deeper form of stakeholders’ collaboration, instead of simply automating solutions that render human as passive recipients.

·       Sustainability – Aim for lasting transformation, protecting both social cohesion and ecological balance.

Figure 2: Three S Assessments

To demonstrate this alignment is not just a philosophy, but a lived practice. Two proceeding blogs on Vulcan Coalition, an AI-start-up driven by disability empowerment, and Traffy Fondue, an AI-powered citizen engagement platform, are the two examples from Thailand to illustrate alignment in action. 

Scaling Up: AI Ecosystem, Not Just Projects

Making a difference one project at a time is admirable, real systemic change requires embedding these principles into national policies, educational initiatives, and broader public conversations. For instance, while prosperity alignments through participatory designs and local embeddedness can be addressable through project level, alignments such as socio-technical governance of high-risk systems or ecological integrity of AI data centres require deliberation at the national level. 

Figure 3: AI-Prosperity Alignment at Ecosystem Level

AI4SG projects traditionally follow a linear process: identify a problem, build an AI solution, evaluate for SDG outcomes. AI-Prosperity Alignment broadens this approach by examining how individual projects can influence industry standards and policy debates.  For instance, insights from a small community project might trigger discussions about national regulations, creating a feedback loop that connects grassroots experiences to broader governance decisions.

 

Creating Democratic Spaces: AI Mini-Publics

The aspiration for multivocal governance is easier said than done. Many perceive AI as too powerful to reject yet too complex to understand, leaving decisions in the hands of a few experts. This phenomenon, known as “enchanted determinism,” prevents broader public involvement. This is precisely why prosperity alignment first starts at the project level, where the goal is not just introducing AI solution to address problems but to foster more informed citizens who is willing to engage in “AI mini-public.”

These mini-publics, according to Alexander Buhman and Christian Fieseler, are deliberative spaces where citizens, activists, and experts learn from each other, form opinions, and advise on AI governance. Such forums can spur media attention, highlight underrepresented concerns, and translate technical jargon into policies regular people understand.

Looking Ahead

AI-Prosperity Alignment offers a roadmap for technology that genuinely serves both people and planet. It acknowledges that inclusive development can’t stop at short-term “tech fixes.” Real change requires a democratic space and platform that empowers communities to determine how AI evolves and who it benefits.

By linking grassroots projects and top-down policy, each informs the other, creating a positive feedback loop. Local lessons learned from inclusive AI projects inspire regulations that prioritise social and environmental integrity; in turn, national policies encourage more participatory innovation on the ground. Over time, these efforts can help normalise an approach where technological inclusion is not an afterthought but a guiding principle - and where ecological costs aren’t hidden but addressed head-on.

Aligning AI with prosperity is a collective endeavour. The challenge is real, but so is the promise: an AI ecosystem where national policies and grassroots engagement truly work in tandem to foster meaningful, sustainable, and equitable growth. By integrating AI mini-publics, bridging operational and societal gains, and proactively safeguarding ecological and cultural richness, we can shape a future where AI does not overshadow us but supports and uplifts us all.

Dr. Putthiphan Hirunyatrakul is a longstanding member of the IGP community, having completed his MSc in 2019 and his PhD in 2025. Building on the Institute’s redefinition of prosperity, Putthiphan introduces an AI-Prosperity Alignment framework that identifies context-specific pathways for participatory AI projects to foster social emancipation, creating a deliberative space and enabling multivocal governance at the national level. By linking grassroots initiatives with top-down policies, his framework establishes a positive feedback loop where each informs the other, ultimately advancing a vision of technology that is shaped by and supports inclusive prosperity.

Cover Photo by Shiv 28 on Unsplash