As the AI for Good Global Summit wraps up in Geneva on Friday, Frederic Werner of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) mentioned the initiative, launched in 2017, has matured from promise and hype into real-world influence, driving options in well being, accessibility, governance, and youth empowerment.
When AI for Good was created in 2017, it was very a lot based mostly round “the hope, the fear of a promise, and the hype of AI,” Werner, the top of strategic engagement on the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, mentioned. “Central to its mission was always, how can we use AI to help solve the world’s most pressing challenges?”
From AI-powered voice diagnostics that may detect blood sugar ranges to brain-computer interfaces enabling locked-in sufferers to talk utilizing AI-generated replicas of their very own voices, the summit spotlighted a wave of life-changing improvements. “These are life-changing technologies,” he mentioned, whereas additionally elevating crucial considerations: “If you can know how much sugar is in my blood, what else can you tell with my voice? Am I telling the truth right now? You might not know. So that raises all types of ethical questions.”
Werner emphasised the significance of brain-computer interface applied sciences not just for individuals with disabilities but in addition for broader well-being. “A lot of these non-invasive brain-computer interface technologies can tell how stressed you are and how tired you are. It can also be like a bit of a coach that could help you get through your life,” he mentioned.
For these applied sciences to scale ethically and successfully, worldwide requirements are important.
– AI-RELATED STANDARDS
“None of that works without standards,” he mentioned, and added that ITU has 400 requirements which are printed or in improvement. To handle this want, the ITU formally launched the International AI Standards Exchange Database through the summit. Developed with companions together with ISO/IEC, and different world standardization our bodies, the platform brings collectively a variety of AI-related requirements in a single centralized, user-friendly portal.
Werner mentioned the objective is to help startups and innovators who usually battle to find related requirements scattered throughout numerous sources. The database makes it simpler for them to entry present frameworks that may information improvement in areas like autonomous mobility, healthcare, and robotics — whereas additionally serving as a basis for shaping future requirements, he added.
– GLOBAL AI LITERACY GAP
He additionally careworn the necessity to shut the worldwide AI literacy hole. “Whether you’re in a developed country or a developing country, it’s a huge, huge concern,” he mentioned. In response, the ITU launched the AI Skills Coalition with over 50 companions and 70+ on-line programs in 80 languages. Pop star and tech advocate Will.i.am helped draw consideration to the difficulty, Werner mentioned.
“He was very well placed to really be a beacon and put a spotlight on the urgency of AI skills,” he added.
Werner shared an analogy from Will.i.am through the summit that resonated with many. “What if it was optimized for your goals, to help you learn, to help you train… so kind of like an AI-powered GPS for life,” he quoted the artist, contrasting it with AI’s present give attention to engagement and a spotlight.
Among the sensible improvements showcased was a $10,000 AI-powered strolling stick, designed to function a scalable various to seeing eye canine. “A seeing eye dog is excellent, but it actually costs about … $400,000 to train,” he mentioned, noting that “with a $10,000 device, you basically have an AI-powered seeing eye dog.”
Youth have been additionally on the coronary heart of the summit, as children from 22 nations participated in a catastrophe response competitors through which they have been attempting to determine a greater method to work on massive world challenges utilizing AI and in addition a number of different workshops.
– GOVERNING AI
Looking forward, Werner mentioned AI is shifting too quick for anyone entity to manipulate alone. “If (a) government did it alone, it would never work. If the UN did it alone, (it would) never work. If industry did it alone, not good. We need civil society. We need NGOs. We need young people,” he mentioned. “The goal of a summit is really bringing all of these people together… and hopefully it triggers a lot of collaborations.”
According to Werner, over 10,000 individuals participated in individual on the summit, which occurred between July 8 and 11. Meanwhile, the same variety of individuals adopted it on-line.
Hosted by the ITU in collaboration with the Swiss authorities and over 40 UN businesses, the four-day summit has been held on the Palexpo conference middle, with an goal to drive concrete options utilizing AI to deal with world challenges, together with well being, local weather change, schooling, and inclusive improvement.
Source: www.anews.com.tr