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We know from experience that expanding access to opportunity through technology requires strong public-private partnerships \u2014 with bold investments supported by the right policy frameworks. That\u2019s why to address the SDGs and prevent an AI divide we are working across sectors, in concert with the UN and others. Today I\u2019m excited to share a few updates on that work, including ongoing partnerships with UN agencies and a broad array of global stakeholders.<\/p>\n
As Sundar shared in his keynote address, we\u2019re proudly committing $120 million to make AI education and training available throughout the world. We\u2019re partnering with nonprofit and civil society organizations to provide training in local languages based on foundational AI courses designed by Google and others. This is in addition to $275 million in Google.org funding already committed to support the responsible use of AI in society, funding both NGOs using AI to accelerate their social impact as well as organizations helping to build an ethical, safe and robust AI ecosystem. This also covers support for the development of AI solutions to achieve the SDGs such as flood forecasting in more than 80 countries, wildfire detection, and AlphaFold which is being used by over 2 million scientists in more than 190 countries doing protein-folding research.<\/p>\n
After a successful year since the launch of UN Data Commons for the SDGs, Google has worked with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Statistics Division to expand Data Commons integration into major organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Data Commons acts as a central hub, providing an AI interface to access insights and visualizations on SDG progress, ultimately facilitating data-driven strategies and decisions in support of the SDGs.<\/b> This helps with data equity \u2014 eliminating data as a primary barrier to implementing the SDGs \u2014 and ensures more communities have the resources they need to benefit from AI advances.<\/p>\nUsing AI to map the world\u2019s buildings<\/h2>\n
With the global population growing by more than 80 million a year, mapping the ever-changing built environment is difficult. But comprehensive urban data is critical to help global decision-makers and partners like UN Habitat support effective urban planning and address SDG 11. Just last week, we launched the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal dataset, which uses AI to extract building footprints and heights from satellite imagery that is too blurry for the human eye, and provides critical information about how the world\u2019s cities are changing over time with unprecedented detail.<\/p>\n
In collaboration with Google.org, UN Global Pulse\u2019s DISHA initiative, and the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT), Google Research delivered an AI-powered solution to assist UNOSAT experts in assessing building damage, significantly enhancing the United Nations\u2019 capacity to respond to global natural disasters. The tool allows UNOSAT analysts to expand their coverage by a factor of seven, allowing them to assess much larger regions in disaster zones, and it speeds up the production of initial damage reports by a factor of six, facilitating faster support to humanitarian agencies.<\/p>\n
Google Cloud collaborated with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN International Computing Centre (UNICC), and the Italian and Ethiopian governments to co-host an event to address the mounting challenges associated with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulations. Google Cloud offers modern technology solutions to empower coffee farmers with what we call \u201cfirst mile data ownership,\u201d providing control of the data to the farmers on the ground and allowing for greater transparency and supply chain efficiency. We also signed a Joint Declaration with UNIDO to leverage innovation to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development.<\/p>\n
As part of our commitment to learning for all, we\u2019re working with UNICEF to support SDG4 (Quality Education), including deploying Chromebooks and using Google Classroom and Read Along to support literacy development. We are also proud to be a member of UNESCO\u2019s Global Education Coalition, which yesterday launched the Six Pillars for Digital Transformation of Education, a common framework to shape sustainable and human-centered digital transformation of education systems. We know that by safely connecting young people to high-quality learning experiences, we can support skilling, economic development and societal contribution. Our aim is to use the power of technology, including advances in AI, and apply it to help close the equity gap and solve for the global learning crisis.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re proud of our ongoing work with the UN. This year, in particular, we were deeply inspired by the first-ever \u201cSummit of the Future,\u201d which reflected an understanding of the urgent issues facing our world, as well as the role technology can play if we work together.<\/p>\n
We already know that future generations are watching, and focused on the urgent need for progress. In fact, this year a group of YouTube Creators from around the world joined UNGA and the summit to amplify these vital conversations with their more than 52 million subscribers. This, in addition to livestreaming UNGA sessions on YouTube, is one more way that people are signaling support for progress on the SDGs.<\/p>\n
As Sundar put it, \u201cThe opportunities are too great\u2026the challenges too urgent\u2026. and this technology too transformational, to do anything less.\u201d<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s do this!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n