AI for Good

The Internet has become such a big part of our lives that normally we don’t even think about what’s happening behind our phones and computers. We don’t consider how technology can help protect us as we shop, apply for loans, look for jobs, pay bills and more.

When you use the term “artificial intelligence” around someone, chances are that they will picture a big tech company using huge and superintelligent machines for really complicated tasks; or they’ll think about something out of a sci-fi movie, like a sentient robot army. But the reality is that AI is increasingly becoming more accessible and available for all kinds of people and applications, and is no longer a far-fetched idea from the past. AI is now part of our lives. One exciting aspect of this is how it’s being used by small businesses to increase growth, improve customer service and manage the business.

Artificial intelligence algorithms are becoming more and more popular in the field of biology and medicine. A big part of machine learning research these days is devoted to understanding and improving the way we deal with health issues and diseases.

Left alone, artificial intelligence can run amok. Algorithms built into social media software spread fake news six times faster than factual news. Indeed, social media companies profit from the consequences of artificial intelligence, all of which is why there is a stark need for "ethical" AI. Gartner, a research and advisory company, predicts that 85 percent of all AI projects in the next two years will have erroneous outcomes.

Japan is seeking to boost its flagging birth rate by funding the use of artificial intelligence to help match lonely hearts. The Japanese government plans to allocate ¥2 billion ($19 million) over the next year to support local programs that help residents find dating matches. Previously, Japan has relied on human-based matchmaking services. This new plan will employ AI systems that can perform more advanced analysis of people's interest and hobbies. Japan's fertility rate was 1.36 last year, making it one of the world's lowest. The nation hopes that AI can help raise the birthrate.

High-flying balloons are bringing broadband connectivity to remote nations and post-disaster zones where cell towers have been knocked out. The helium-filled balloons, which float 65,000 feet up in the stratosphere, use artificial intelligence to predict wind speed and direction at various heights, then use that information to raise or lower the balloon accordingly. The idea behind using AI to control the balloon was to find a smart solution to the simple problem of keeping the device stationary over the people who need connectivity the most. The implications for this AI-assisted system are tremendous. High-tech stationary balloons like this could be used to monitor animal migrations, the effects of climate change, or illegal cross-border wildlife or human trafficking.