AI Fortifying Global Inclusion: Trailblazing Initiatives Announced

At the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Partner2Connect and AI for Good unveiled the remarkable outcomes of their pledge drive initiated by the ITU Secretary-General earlier this year. Seven visionary organizations from various sectors, including governments, UN bodies, industry, and NGOs, have collectively pledged an impressive $1.76 billion. Their mission is to foster digital inclusion, particularly for individuals with disabilities, young girls, and women through the innovative use of AI. These commitments are also aimed at nurturing more sustainable and inclusive digital economies by enhancing access to technology through infrastructure development, skills training, and support systems.

Discover more about the AI pledges and the exciting array of innovative projects:

ESSL Foundation

The Zero Project of the Essl Foundation is set to champion responsible AI for global disability. By analyzing disability data from over 1,500 awardees spanning over 120 countries, the Zero Project infuses $190,000 into supporting informed decision-making and providing extensive data access, along with networking and matchmaking opportunities. This AI tool is also poised to accelerate the adoption of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

Generation Unlimited – United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

The Skill Accelerator Pilot is an ambitious $12 million investment aimed at empowering young women aged 19-24 in AI and entrepreneurship. This initiative will offer training, mentorship, and support to foster the next generation of female leaders. The program is designed to fast-track young women into leadership roles, thereby enhancing their engagement in AI and encouraging the adoption of digital tools.

Government of Canada

Canada is investing strategically in computing infrastructure to bolster AI businesses and researchers through the CAD 2 billion (USD 1.46 billion) AI Compute Access Fund. Furthermore, an additional commitment of CAD 400 million (USD 292 million) is dedicated to promote AI integration across Canada’s economy, assist small and medium enterprises in adopting AI technologies, protect workers through skills development, and create a new Canadian AI Safe Institute to better address the risks posed by advanced AI systems.

Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence, Nazarbayev University, Astana

Introducing a groundbreaking initiative, the Chat GPT for Visually Impaired project addresses the challenges faced by hundreds of millions living with visual disabilities. Recognizing that over 80% of our perception and cognition is visual, this assistive mobile application will empower visually impaired users to engage with ChatGPT through natural conversation, employing technologies like Assisted Speech Recognition (ASR), Text-To-Speech (TTS), Keyword Spotting (KWS), and Voice Activity Detection (VAD). The user-friendly interface ensures a seamless ChatGPT experience, with source code, pre-trained models, and UI made publicly available to inspire the development of more assistive mobile applications.

Microsoft

With a focus on inclusivity, Microsoft prioritizes addressing data deserts—areas that lack representation in data—to create accessible AI solutions for over 1 billion individuals with disabilities. The Microsoft Accessibility Program champions projects and fosters partnerships to enhance how people with disabilities are integrated into technology, including AI. As a proud P2C Champion, this pledge marks the fifth in their series of commitments.

ProjectUs.ai

ProjectUs.ai utilizes AI and biosignal processing to aid individuals in honing emotional intelligence skills such as self-awareness, effective communication, and empathy. By analyzing conversational biosignals—including word choice, tone of voice, and body language—this innovative platform provides real-time emotional insights and actionable feedback. ProjectUs.ai enhances organizational cohesion, creativity, and competitiveness, while drastically reducing the costs associated with personalized feedback in workplace settings.

ZTE

ZTE commits to collaborating with over 1,000 partners globally across various sectors to explore the potential of AI. Their mission is to foster the sustainable and inclusive growth of the digital economy. By cultivating a flourishing ecosystem of AI initiatives on a global scale, ZTE aims to propel AI-powered digital transformation, yielding significant societal benefits and economic opportunities towards a more connected, intelligent, and sustainable world. Additionally, as a P2C Champion, this pledge adds to their impressive portfolio of commitments.

Partner2Connect and AI for Good commend these pioneering organizations for their bold and substantial contributions and express enthusiasm for the future results of these commitments through the Partner2Connect platform.

Click here to submit a pledge.

Click here for more information about the AI for Good Global Summit.