What if we could treat the Earth like a computer, a system with an ever-flowing set of data that can be tracked, analyzed, and potentially even predicted. That's the gist of Microsoft's latest environmental initiative, which it's dubbed a "Planetary Computer." The company foresees a world where we can track just about anything happening in the world -- a forest fire in California, the river tides in Uganda -- and have all of that data readily accessible on a single AI-driven platform. If Microsoft succeeds it could reshape our relationship with the Earth entirely. Lucas Joppa, Microsoft's first chief environmental officer, boiled down the concept succinctly in an interview for the Engadget Podcast: "It's a platform that is intended to accelerate our ability to monitor, model and then ultimately manage Earth's natural systems to ask questions like, 'Where are the world's forests? Where are the world's wetlands? How fast are they changing?' And hopefully, what are the sorts of benefits that we are gaining from those ecosystems? What are the services that those ecosystems provision to people?"

"The species of the world are connected with each other. I think that's actually one of the lessons, the real reminders, if you will, of the year 2020, as we all live every day with the issues obviously created by COVID-19," observed Microsoft President Brad Smith, during a video launch Wednesday for the company's latest sustainability push -- an ambitious initiative to support global biodiversity. Smith's remarks, of course, refer to the links tracing the novel coronavirus back to animal origins, a phenomenon that has become far more common as humankind encroaches on forests, wetlands and other habitats. During the modern era, Smith noted, wetlands that purify and store water for thousands of species have been reduced by 87 percent while coral reefs have declined by 50 percent -- data points explored in the United Nations' first global assessment (PDF) of ecosystems and biodiversity published in 2019. An estimated one-quarter of species are threatened with extinction, which could amplify the collapse of other habitats.

The use of technology to solve environmental issues featured strongly at Microsoft's Future Decoded conference this year. Multiple sources show that to slow the effect of climate change and continue to support an ever-growing population, we need to act now. Here, Annie Andrews, head of technology at Microsoft recruitment agency, Curo Talent, explains how. It is a topic that will profoundly affect many aspects of the lives of the workforce of the future. During the Day 1 morning keynote, Dr Lucas Joppa, Chief Environmental Officer for Microsoft, gave businesses three priorities to consider.

Microsoft will work with organisations in the UK to develop artificial intelligence that helps the planet and people with disabilities, the company has announced at Future Decoded. Lucas Joppa, Microsoft's Chief Environmental Officer, used his keynote speech at the London event to launch the second AI for Good programme and invited ventures to apply. The four-month accelerator will have space for 12 start-ups, charities, social enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses that have a social mission. It will give them credits for Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform, a curriculum designed by Microsoft Startups, Social Tech Trust and Microsoft, access to workshops that will help develop their products and bring them to the market, and contact with relevant speakers. "AI is one of the most important tools we have to accelerate innovation at the speed and scale we need to address climate change and other important societal challenges," Joppa said.

Today at our flagship technology event, Future Decoded, we announced the launch of the Microsoft UK AI for Good 2020 accelerator programme to help UK purpose-driven ventures advance their AI solutions and create positive social change. Now in its second year, the Accelerator builds on last year's success, which saw 11 organisations graduate, all of whom reported positive impact on their business following the programme. Unveiled this morning by our Chief Environmental Officer Dr Lucas Joppa, the UK AI for Good Accelerator will be run by Microsoft for Startups and the Social Tech Trust from our accelerator space in Shoreditch, London. "AI is one of the most important tools we have to accelerate innovation at the speed and scale we need to address climate change and other important societal challenges. It's exciting to see Microsoft's AI for Good initiative evolving to engage new partners and help catalyse social impact organisations across the UK." "We have an exciting opportunity to help more social tech ventures to shape the future we want to see, using AI. I'm inspired by the growth we've seen from the 11 ventures in our first cohort and can't wait to see the very best UK social tech innovations that emerge as we open applications for our second AI for Good programme, in partnership with Microsoft."

Today at our flagship technology event, Future Decoded, we announced the launch of the Microsoft UK AI for Good 2020 accelerator programme to help UK purpose-driven ventures advance their AI solutions and create positive social change. Now in its second year, the Accelerator builds on last year's success, which saw 11 organisations graduate, all of whom reported positive impact on their business following the programme. Unveiled this morning by our Chief Environmental Officer Dr Lucas Joppa, the UK AI for Good Accelerator will be run by Microsoft for Startups and the Social Tech Trust from our accelerator space in Shoreditch, London. "AI is one of the most important tools we have to accelerate innovation at the speed and scale we need to address climate change and other important societal challenges. It's exciting to see Microsoft's AI for Good initiative evolving to engage new partners and help catalyse social impact organisations across the UK." "We have an exciting opportunity to help more social tech ventures to shape the future we want to see, using AI. I'm inspired by the growth we've seen from the 11 ventures in our first cohort and can't wait to see the very best UK social tech innovations that emerge as we open applications for our second AI for Good programme, in partnership with Microsoft."

It's no secret that the health of our planet is declining. Deforestation, melting sea ice, rapidly disappearing species and more have weakened Earth's ecosystems, and climate change is arguably the most pressing issue of our time. We need to think outside of the box – and move swiftly – to recover a sustainable future. Once considered the stuff of science fiction, artificial intelligence (AI) is not only playing a growing role in our everyday lives, but it could be a critical tool in helping save the planet. In fact, reversing what could soon be permanent damage is the impetus for Microsoft's AI for Earth program, which awards grants to researchers and innovators dedicated to solving environmental challenges.

Microsoft and National Geographic are teaming up to support data scientists who are tackling the "world's biggest challenges." The two companies today announced the AI for Earth Innovation Grant program, a $1 million grant that'll provide recipients financial assistance, access to AI tools and cloud services, and more to advance conservation research. The grant program, which is accepting applications until October 8, will support between five and 15 projects in five core areas: agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, climate change, and water. In addition to funding, researchers will gain access to Microsoft's AI platform and development tools, inclusion in the National Geographic Explorer community, and affiliation with National Geographic Labs, National Geographic's research incubation and accelerator initiative. "[I]n Microsoft, we found a partner that is well-positioned to accelerate the pace of scientific research and new solutions to protect our natural world," Jonathan Baillie, chief scientist and executive vice president at the National Geographic Society, said in a statement.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), defined as the capability of machines to imitate intelligent human behavior and learn from data, is considered by many to be the final frontier of computing. And environmentalists and tech companies are now harnessing the power of AI to service to the environment. To wit, Microsoft announced in December 2017 that it is expanding its "AI for Earth" program and committing $50 million over the next five years to put AI technologies in the hands of individuals and organizations working to solve global environmental challenges, including climate change as well as water, agriculture and biodiversity issues. Lucas Joppa, Microsoft's first chief environmental scientist, is convinced that AI is now mature enough and the global environmental crisis acute enough to justify the creation of an AI platform for the planet. "I believe that for every environmental problem, governments, non-profits, academia and the technology industry need to ask two questions: 'How can AI help solve this?' and'How can we facilitate the application of AI?'," Joppa said.

Dear EarthTalk: What are some ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to fight climate change and otherwise protect the environment? Artificial Intelligence (AI), defined as the capability of machines to imitate intelligent human behavior and learn from data, is considered by many to be the final frontier of computing. And environmentalists and tech companies are now harnessing the power of AI to service to the environment. To wit, Microsoft announced in December 2017 that it is expanding its "AI for Earth" program and committing $50 million over the next five years to put AI technologies in the hands of individuals and organizations working to solve global environmental challenges, including climate change as well as water, agriculture and biodiversity issues. Lucas Joppa, Microsoft's first Chief Environmental Scientist, is convinced that AI is now mature enough and the global environmental crisis acute enough to justify the creation of an AI platform for the planet.