Artificial intelligence for the social good

Mobile transportation platform provider, Didi Chuxing (DiDi), has launched an initiative to fully understand the social impact on communities of artificial intelligence (AI). The company, which offers a range of app-based transportation options for 550 million users including taxi, carpooling and bike-share, made the announcement at its Tech Day in Beijing, where it also unveiled its latest developments in AI with industry partners, academia, students and engineers. At the event, DiDi's tech executives, led by Bob Zhang Bo, chief technology officer, shared details of breakthroughs in the company's popular Express Pool service, which aims to improve the user experience by using machine learning algorithms. Operating across more 100 cities in China, Express Pool now accounts for over 20 per cent of all trips in many core markets. It said the algorithms can help carpooling become the most effective mobility option for drivers to increase their income, for passengers to reduce costs, and for cities to enjoy a high level of efficiency in the transportation system.