AI for Good Global Summit puts AI into action to accelerate progress towards SDGs

The Artificial Intelligence for Good Global Summit was organised on 28-31 May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland under the theme: accelerating progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Summit, which is the main UN platform for inclusive dialogue on AI, aims at putting innovators in contact with problem owners for sustainable development to a) identify practical applications of AI to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, and b) ensure trusted, safe, and inclusive development of AI technologies and equitable access to their benefits. The Summit focused on five ‘breakthrough tracks’ which are AI and health, AI and education, AI and human dignity and equality, scaling AI, and AI for space. During the launch of the summit, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao emphasised that ‘Artificial intelligence, or AI, is at the forefront of fighting hunger, mitigating the climate crisis, and facilitating the transition to smart sustainable cities.’ It was also noted that for AI to address the major global challenges, it is important to maintain fairness, inclusiveness, and accountability.