AI for Social Good
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itunews AI for social good How artificial intelligence can boost sustainable development 01/2017 Topics ■ Making the most of the digital dividend ■ Introduction to spectrum management ■ Understanding modern spectrum policy ■ Preparing for spectrum auctions ■ Introduction to telecoms regulation ■ Systems for managing and providing information about spectrum ■ Managing public sector spectrum ■ The economics of spectrum management ■ Planning for cognitive radio ■ Policies for the unlicensed sector Bespoke training courses in spectrum policy, telecoms and broadcasting In Association with PolicyTracker “Driving Wireless Innovation“ Join us for Europe´s largest Spectrum Summit on July 5th 2017 to hear about: Challenges of network deployment and future spectrum access for 5G Moderation: Saul Friedner, Associate Director Spectrum Services, LS telcom Internet of Things: technology, regulation and spectrum Moderation: Martin Sims, Managing Director, PolicyTracker DTT of the future – more or less? Moderation: Richard Womersley, Director Spectrum Services, LS telcom (Please note: Agenda and speakers are subject to change) Don’t miss our Post-Summit Workshops on July 6th! Reserve your place now! www.spectrum-summit.com (Editorial) Harnessing the power of AI for social good Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary‑General rtificial intelligence (AI) has finally arrived, and is quickly becoming a key part of our everyday lives. AI is already incorporated in many products — from Google’s search and translation to Alibaba’s real-time traffic predictions Ato Tesla’s self-driving cars. It is increasingly becoming key to tech industry growth as huge amounts of data generated by Internet of Things (IoT) applications will rely on AI analytics to realize their full potential. AI also has enormous potential for social good. If the scalable power of AI can be leveraged correctly, it can rapidly accelerate progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lives across the world can be improved in fundamental ways, and this spe- cial edition of ITU News Magazine will outline many of them. Yet, the transformative power of AI brings with it complicated chal- lenges, ranging from ethical issues to security risks, to the disruptive impact of AI on employment. Navigating these challenges may be as difficult as delivering the solu- AI has finally tions for social good — and both will require unprecedented collab- arrived, and oration. AI experts stress that discussions around AI’s implications for society should not be confined to specialists. Indeed, every govern- it is quickly ment, every company, every academic institution and every one of us becoming a should consider how AI will affect our future. 1 key part of This is why ITU, in collaboration with XPRIZE, is organizing the first our everyday “AI for Good Global Summit” to be held in Geneva, from 7 to 9 June lives. 2017. The event aims to accelerate the development of AI solutions by enabling key stakeholders to discuss how best to support AI innova- tion that respects emerging global ethics, norms and standards. 01/2017 We hope this collection of thought leadership and insight from some of AI’s top minds will help frame the important issues, so that together we can unlock the great potential of AI technology to improve lives. MAGAZINE ITU News (Contents) AI for social good How artificial intelligence can boost sustainable development (Editorial) 1 Harnessing the power of AI for social good Cover photo: Shutterstock Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary‑General (Solutions and Opportunities) 4 Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals through AI Stephen Ibaraki, Managing partner, REDDS Venture Investment Partners 10 The next frontier is here: 3 key AI capabilities Neil Sahota, Business Development Leader, IBM Watson ISSN 1020–4148 13 Merging biology and AI: the future of health care itunews.itu.int Niven R. Narain, Co‑Founder, President and CEO, BERG Six issues per year Copyright: © ITU 2017 16 How advanced crop intelligence can help solve food production challenges Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Clark Art Editor: Christine Vanoli Josef Akhtman, CEO and founder, Gamaya Editorial Assistant: Angela Smith 19 Unlocking health‑promoting benefits with AI Editorial office/Advertising information: ITU News interviewed Dr Nora Khaldi, Founder Tel.: +41 22 730 5234/6303 and Chief Scientific Officer, Nuritas™ and Emmet Fax: +41 22 730 5935 Browne, Chief Executive Officer, Nuritas™ E-mail: [email protected] Mailing address: (Challenges and Risks) International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations 2 23 AI and ethics — where to draw the line? CH–1211 Geneva 20 (Switzerland) Mike Hinchey, President, International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the 26 Quantum computing: New threats require new security authors and do not engage ITU. The designations em- approaches ployed and presentation of material in this publication, including maps, do not imply the expression of any Frederic Werner, Senior Communication Officer, ITU opinion whatsoever on the part of ITU concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or con- 01/2017 29 Preparing for an AI‑driven society cerning the delimitations of its frontiers or boundaries. Amir Banifatemi, AI Lead, XPRIZE The mention of specific companies or of certain prod- Foundation and venture capitalist ucts does not imply that they are endorsed or recom- mended by ITU in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. MAGAZINE All photos are by ITU unless specified otherwise. ITU News AI for GOOD GLOBAL SUMMIT AI can help solve humanity’s grandest challenges. Map poverty Multi-sectoral with predictive collaboration is Big Data analytics Reduce essential Increase discrimination agricultural and corruption in productivity government Outwit poachers Analyse vast and monitor amounts of species’ health healthcare data Track illegal fishing through Revolutionize pattern- classrooms with recognition individualized software learning Model Pinpoint gender climate change to inequity, drive predict disasters balanced hiring Predict optimal Improve production efficient, clean levels to water provision reduce waste Power urban-planning Improve decisions through photovoltaic sensor data energy capture Build a more Increase productivity inclusive society through intelligent (e.g. disability automation robotics) Help drive industry innovation Geneva, 7-9 June 2017 (Solutions and Opportunities) Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals through AI Stephen Ibaraki Managing partner, REDDS Venture Investment Partners REDDS ontinuing on from Mobile and Cloud First, ”AI First“ is quickly becoming a top solution strategy for industry and governments, as evidenced by Cmassive artificial intelligence (AI) investments in the billions. IDC has predicted revenues of nearly 50 billion globally in 2020 at a 55% compound annual growth rate. But it’s not The ’AI of just about business growth: AI is potentially one of the most powerful accelerators of the Everything’ is the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development top tech trend for Goals (SDGs). 2017 and could be The ”AI of Everything“ is the top tech trend an inflection point for 2017 and could be an inflection point for for humankind humankind and the SDGs. 4 and the SDGs. British computer scientist Alan Turing made Stephen Ibaraki predictions about machine learning way back in 1947. Fast forward to 2017, when Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, speaking in India, called AI the ultimate breakthrough technology, which is real- 01/2017 ized today in intelligent agents, augmented real- ity, and rapid advancements in deep neural nets providing fundamental human-like perception. MAGAZINE ITU News (Solutions and Opportunities) AI, for instance, is currently being used to economic, cultural, and societal change driven mine opportunities from the data within India’s by what I call ’A Triple C’: 1.1 billion-citizen, biometric digital identity sys- Automation; tem, Aadhaar. The possibilities were discussed time Compression in new innovations; amongst entrepreneurs at the Financial Services Convergence in biological and Roundtable Fintech Ideas Festival CEO‑summit digital existences; in January. ubiquitous Connectivity. That’s just one example of the overlapping The underlying catalyst of ”A Triple C“ is a digital amplification of value that could come out of AI mesh created by the growing deployment of this period of unprecedented acceleration of machine learning — the ”AI of Everything“. AI for global good — Accelerating the SDGs So how can the power of AI be harnessed for social good? How can it accelerate the SDGs? There are a growing number of use cases for AI enabling the SDGs. Here are a few of them. SDG 1: No poverty AI will provide real-time resource allocation through satellite mapping and data analysis of poverty. SDG 2: Zero hunger Agriculture productivity is increased through predicative analysis from imaging with automated drones and from satellites. Nearly 50% of crops are lost through waste, over consumption and production inefficiencies. 5 Livestock production losses are 78%. SDG 3: Good health and well‑being Preventative healthcare programs and diagnostics are significantly improved through AI leading to new scientific breakthroughs. There are 8 billion mobile devices with smartphone cameras being used to diag- nose heart, eye and blood disorders; microphone and motion sensors 01/2017 yielding insights into bone density and osteoporosis — and