AI Insights

10 Foundations Who Leverage Artificial Intelligence to Address Real-World Problems

September 13, 2020


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How Foundations apply the power of AI for Good

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is arising as one of the most important technologies in the new wave of digital innovation and is transforming industries around the world. The Foundations listed below are at the forefront of some of the latest advancements in the AI field. They devote their energy to addressing challenging problems in order to create a better future.

The RAAIS Foundation

The Research and Applied AI Summit brings together entrepreneurs and researchers who accelerate the application and science of AI technology for the common good. The foundation awards financial grants for open-source AI research and projects anywhere in the world. Grants are awarded on the basis of their potential for a common good impact. In particular, they support communities that would otherwise not have a chance to participate in advancing AI.

Fondation Botnar

This Swiss-based Foundation champions the use of AI and digital technology to improve the well-being and health of children and young people in growing urban environments. To achieve this, they support research and invest in emerging technologies and scalable solutions globally.

Ford Foundation

The Foundation focuses on new and emerging technologies — including AI, robotics, and big data — are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the jobs of the future. They shift jobs between sectors, transforming the kinds of tasks that are done in existing jobs, and changing how people connect to work. The Future of Work(ers) seeks to leverage new technologies to help increase human productivity as well as job quality.

Tableau Foundation

Tableau Foundation is committed to empowering organizations with data to address not just the immediate crises, but also the longstanding inequities behind them. The Foundation works across several areas such as climate action, equity, global health, and poverty.

AI for Good Foundation

The AI for Good Foundation applies artificial intelligence research for global sustainable development. Current projects are helping to advance the global sustainable development goals (SDGs) — a set of goals adopted by 150 countries to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.

Cloudera Foundation

The Cloudera Foundation is based on the belief that responsible use of data is the most powerful way to progress on the world’s most challenging problems. Cloudera, as a leading tech company, through the Cloudera Foundation, is committed to contributing its expertise in big data to find solutions to problems people face around the globe today.

Wadhwani Foundation

The Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence is an independent, nonprofit research institute developing AI solutions for social good. Their mission is to develop and apply AI-based innovations and solutions to a broad range of societal domains including healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion.

Volkswagen Foundation

Given the pace of innovation in the field of artificial intelligence, many people are looking for orientation, explanation, and classification. The trust for AI will only grow if its ​​development also deals with the ethical, moral, and normative consequences of its actions. The Volkswagen Foundation supports this process with a constantly updated focus — and a funding initiative supporting the close collaboration of technology and social sciences.

Hewlett Foundation

Hewlett Foundations supports much of its AI work through its Cyber Initiative, which seeks to cultivate a field that develops thoughtful, multidisciplinary solutions to complex cyber challenges and catalyzes better policy outcomes for the benefit of societies. They are also a major founder of the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund.

Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation supports pioneering neuroscience research and explores the ways in which advances in technology, AI, and data science can be used for the betterment of humanity. They believe that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve people’s lives and that the benefits and value of AI should be shared by all.

Skoll Foundation

The Skoll Foundation drives large-scale change by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs and innovators who aim to solve the world’s most pressing problems. As the use of artificial intelligence grows exponentially each year, there is a possible future where AI and machine learning are used to bolster solutions to difficult challenges and drive scalable innovations.

For these Foundations, technology, and AI is more than just supporting player. It is taking a leading role and delivering breakthrough results. Needless to say, we should all collaborate and use AI in the most purposeful and ethical way.

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