Microsoft Commits $40M to Exploration of "AI for Human Good" Use Cases - AI Trends

Microsoft is embarking on a five-year, $40m programme to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to bolster the response of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to humanitarian disasters. The AI for Humanitarian Action programme will focus on using AI technologies to assist select NGOs throughout the world working on projects in four key areas. These include NGOs and humanitarian organisations involved in responding to natural disasters, child protection incidents, refugee crisis situations and human rights abuses, who Microsoft will support by offering grants and investments. "While global relief organisations scramble to respond to these events, their work by definition is often reactive and difficult to scale. We believe that technology, like artificial intelligence combined with cloud, can be a game changer, helping save more lives, alleviate suffering and restore human dignity by changing the way frontline relief organisations anticipate, predict and better target response efforts," said Microsoft president, Brad Smith, in a blog post announcing the initiative's launch.