AI for Societal Impact: A new ethos of innovation

We have witnessed a dizzying pace of innovation in the past two decades, with technology such as the Internet and smartphone being adopted at a much faster pace compared to other major technologies in the past.?

According to CB Insights, the global funding of artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a record-high of $50 billion in 2021 year-to-date, up 55 percent compared to 2020. Unsurprisingly, a recent IEEE survey revealed that AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and 5G are considered to be the most important technologies in 2022.

But even the best technologies and intentions can have unintended consequences. As digital takes hold and our day-to-day lives become more tech-dependent, how do we ensure we are not leaving people behind and that the gains are more evenly distributed in our divided world??

You can’t be what you can’t see

"How can the world converge on a singular approach to ethics for computers when it cannot agree on philosophical issues for people? This is a fundamental conundrum for the future." Brad Smith, President and Vice Chair of Microsoft, co-author of Tools And Weapons

As humans, we tend to solve problems we can relate to. But technologies such as AI have vast implications for everyone in the society. It is imperative that diverse voices are heard and included, in order to empower true innovation that can serve more of our communities. We must ensure broader representation from design to execution, to include not only technologists and data scientists, but also those from social science and humanities — from different backgrounds, cognitive abilities, and all walks of life.

Talent is equally distributed; opportunities are not. To enable true diversity in innovation, we must also invest in education, as well as upskilling and reskilling opportunities to create different pathways for people to participate.?

With power comes responsibilities. Our challenges are immense but not insurmountable, and the opportunities to do good are abundant. From empowering organizations and individuals to advance sustainability, to providing humanitarian response, and supporting health innovation, there are many promising areas where we can use AI for good.

Using AI for the common good

“AI is a tool to make invisible people visible.” Dr Anshu Sharma, Co-Founder of SEEDS and “AI for Good Humanitarian Action” grantee

AI for Earth: From farming to combating the impact of climate change, AI can help improve food insecurity and biodiversity, and provide insights to help us navigate the complexity of our global system and strike a delicate balance between human consumption and preservation.

• With better water resources planning and crop insurance via remote sensing technology, AI helps to transform farming productivity and reduce environmental impact, while establishing more sustainable income streams for farmers.
• Advanced AI algorithms, along with data from satellite imagery, are used to prototype deforestation risk and prevent future losses to the rainforests.?
• By leveraging machine learning, we can also identify plastic pollution in rivers and simulate how it moves in the ocean. These insights power passive cleanup systems to help remove the plastic that impacts our ecosystems.?

AI for Health: From accelerating research to predicting viruses, AI can help combat global health crises and reduce health inequity with improved access to care.

• AI systems can help diagnose patients with COVID-19 quickly and accurately, saving valuable time at the onset of the pandemic.
• AI chatbots have been used as self-diagnostic tools to help patients evaluate their symptoms online and reduce the number of emergency room visits and nurse line calls.?

AI for Accessibility: From mobility to education and employment, AI can help to empower people living with disabilities and ensure inclusion.

• Through text-based instructions and screen-reading software, AI enables those who are visually impaired to build Lego projects almost entirely on their own.?
• AI expands access to learning materials, language development, and assistive technology, making education more engaging for everyone.
• AI-powered smart appliances and devices help make daily activities safer and easier and create a more inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities.

AI for Humanitarian Action: From disaster response and human rights, to supporting the needs of refugees, displaced people, women, and children, AI can help improve the efficiency of relief efforts and build resilience to address the growing unpredictability of the future.

• AI can enable anticipatory action, e.g. spot wildfire, eliminating the need for humans in the initial phases.
• AI and satellite imagery can be used to identify and reduce the risk for disasters through customized advisories for vulnerable communities and partnerships with local response teams.

There are of course many more ways where advanced technologies can be deployed to create a positive impact for our communities. To promote equitable innovation and adoption, and to embark on a future where humans and machines collaborate together, where AI acts as Augmented Intelligence and not just Artificial Intelligence, we must foster an environment of trust and transparency. We must also develop a set of guardrails to ensure we don’t exacerbate the growing inequalities.?

An inclusive and equitable future

“I envision a future where AI fuses technology, science, and art to change the way we experience the world, help us create in new ways, and preserve our culture. We're already seeing this with projects like Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds.” Mitra Azizirad, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft AI and Innovation

Technology can be used as a tool to further the well-being of humans, or as a weapon to do harm. The power and the responsibility are in our hands, to ensure that such powerful technology is used to improve the human condition, and to create a more equitable society where all can benefit.?

We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can control our actions of today, to create a better and more sustainable future for all. After all, technology doesn’t change the world; people do. To fulfill the promise of AI, don’t forget the human behind the technology.

“Imagine a world where you can preserve endangered species, optimize healthcare for those most needing it, and help those with autism get better employment opportunities.” Gretchen O'Hara, Microsoft VP U.S. AI & Sustainability Strategy

That is a future that we can all aspire to.?

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Meet passionate people from all walks of life who are putting AI into action to transform our world. Explore the Humans and AI stories here.