Top Tech Companies Applying Artificial Intelligence for Social Good

Tech companies are using artificial intelligence for social good to address worldly challenges

As technology has evolved to be a part of our daily routine, it is taking a socially responsible stance. The world is not fine. Today we are batting away a deadly virus while also making moves to mitigate the threatening climate change. However, technology on the other hand is implying artificial intelligence for social good. From a technological point of view, the data gathered from across the globe can be used to innovate futuristic AI solutions that could address social causes. Besides, reports suggest that AI solutions can contribute to tackling cases across all seventeen of the UN's sustainable development goals, potentially helping hundreds of millions of people in both advanced and emerging countries. Artificial intelligence for social good is making a significant impact in diverse sectors including education, urban planning, healthcare, and wildlife conservation. Major AI companies are also coming forward to address these societal challenges by unleashing disruptive AI solutions. AI companies in social good leverage a collaborative approach to demystify worldly issues. In this article, Analytics Insight has listed top tech companies applying artificial intelligence for social good.

Microsoft's Seeing AI for Blind and Visually Impaired

Computer vision technology is seen as a gift to visually impaired people. Today, computer vision is being used in self-driving cars and a variety of other applications, driving a storm of disruption. Starting from drones to smart home appliances, everything is powered by computer vision. Although technology is a major contributor to digitization, its actual use case for social good was unleashed by Microsoft. Microsoft's Seeing AI is capable of speaking text that appears in front of the device's camera. Besides, the AI solution can also tell users what product is in front of them. Seeing AI performs face recognition and figure out who is in the room and can also recognize their emotions. It also performs currency recognition, which could help visually impaired people to identify the cash they are handing out.

Google's AI for Social Good

Google, the most-used search engine company, is also coming up with innovative AI solutions to address social issues. Google is extending its arms to help other companies working for the social good. This year, Google has issued an open call to organizations around the world to submit their ideas for how they could use AI, to help address societal challenges. The company reported that they have received applications from 119 countries, spanning 6 continents with projects ranging from environmental to humanitarian. Google has selected 20 organizations and granted them with a US$20 million pool, and credits, and consulting from Google Cloud. The selected companies joined a nine-month accelerator program to work on projects that could address social causes.

On the other hand, Google is also contributing to demystify the Covid-19 pandemic. The company has awarded US$8.5 million funding to 31 NGOs and academic groups that are using AI and data analytics to aid Covid-19 response efforts.

PathAI's cancer diagnostics and drugs

PathAI is a health tech company working to improve patient outcomes with AI-powered pathology. The platform promises substantial improvements to the accuracy of diagnostics and the efficacy of the treatment of diseases like cancer by leveraging modern approaches in machine learning. PathAI has unleashed a machine learning-based drug development tool for the assessment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis histopathology. The company is also coming up with innovative machine learning tools to diagnose cancer.

IBM's Science for Social Good

IBM has been traditionally engaging in philanthropy and cause-based community work. But lately, the company is directly connecting with the humanitarian world through its 'Science for Social Good initiative. In the recent move, IBM Research scientists and engineers partner with academics and experts from non-governmental organizations to tackle societal challenges. The team is applying artificial intelligence, deep science, cloud computing, and many other technologies to take on societal issues like the opioid crisis, cognitive disease, natural structures in human designs, moral dimension to digital agents in video games, energy conservation, and online hate speech. Science for Social Good is aiming to bring a breakthrough in society by implementing artificial intelligence and using technology to address worldly issues.

Intel's efforts on wildlife conservation

Intel Corporation is one of the many companies working to address wildlife conservation challenges. But what makes the company outperform others is its effort in unleashing trailblazing products. In 2019, Intel unraveled the 'TrailGurad AI' camera that uses Intel-powered artificial intelligence technology to detect poachers entering Africa's wildlife reserves and alert park rangers in real-time. This prevents poachers from killing endangered wild animals. Before this, the company has also used artificial intelligence-based drones for observation of wildlife sanctuaries. The drones were used to collect video and other data on wildlife, from polar bears to whales. It ensured that nature is safer, more efficient, and less invasive.