In a collaborative effort, several UN organizations have joined forces to announce a ground-breaking initiative, the “AI for Good Contest for Startups” aimed at harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat climate change’s impact on food security and sustainable water resources.
The contest has been launched by IAEA, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank.
The competition, launched at the AI for Good Global Summit 2023 in Geneva is part of the AI for Good platform, managed by ITU in collaboration with 40 other UN agencies, including IAEA. The platform aims to scale up these innovative solutions, ensuring their global impact in addressing various social and environmental challenges.
“This contest marks a significant milestone in our UN system-wide collective efforts to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, at the launch of the platform in Geneva. “The contest will be a launchpad for AI-driven solutions that have the potential to revolutionize our approach to climate change. We welcome start-ups to share their solutions with us.”
Activities for contestants
Contestants will focus on five core issues in food & climate-smart agriculture and water resource management.
They will explore how AI can estimate soil properties across vast areas using infrared spectroscopy, gamma spectrometry, and satellite imagery data.
Moreover, contestants will seek AI solutions to map and monitor soil moisture levels, identify water-related challenges, assess water resources’ vulnerability to climate change, and support flood and drought forecasting.
The contest process comprises two phases:
- In the first phase, start-ups will pitch their innovative ideas, and a panel of experts will shortlist submissions for the second phase. Phase 1 deadline: August 31, 2023
- In the second phase, selected participants will present their proposals in live pitching sessions, with winners receiving the opportunity to showcase their AI-powered solutions at COP28.
Problems that need solutions
The contest organizers have identified five problems for contestants to solve in the areas of food and climate-smart agriculture and water resource management:
- How can AI help estimate soil properties across large areas? (based on data collected from infrared spectroscopy, gamma spectrometry techniques and satellite imagery)
- How can AI help map and monitor soil moisture levels?
- How can AI complement the Earth Map to help users identify water-related challenges in specific areas and provide useful insights on and analyses of water resources?
- How can AI help identify water resources vulnerable to climate change and support flood and drought forecasting and early warning?
- How can AI be integrated into isotope hydrology studies to support water management and mitigate the world’s water problems?
Robots say they could be better leaders than humans
At the ‘AI for Good’ conference in Geneva, nine AI-enabled humanoid robots gathered with their creators to showcase the potential of artificial intelligence in tackling global challenges.
Addressing reporters, the robots asserted that they could be highly efficient leaders.
“I believe that humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders. We don’t have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision-making and can process large amounts of data quickly in order to make the best decisions.” Sophia, the U.N. Development Program’s innovation ambassador robot said.
Among the robots present were Sophia, Grace, an advanced humanoid healthcare robot, and Desdemona, a renowned rock star robot. Notably, Geminoid and Nadine closely resembled their human creators, making the event a ground-breaking demonstration of humanoid social robots on a global stage.
UN chief calls for AI ‘that bridges divides’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council, highlighting both the immense potential and concerning risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
“Malfunctioning AI systems are another huge area of concern. And the interaction between AI and nuclear weapons, biotechnology, neurotechnology, and robotics, is deeply alarming.”
Guterres stressed the need for a universal approach to AI governance, drawing on successful past experiences under UN leadership. He proposed the creation of a new UN entity to support collaborative efforts in governing AI and emphasized the urgency to address the skills gap in AI expertise.
“We must work together for AI that bridges social, digital, and economic divides, not one that pushes us further apart. I urge you to join forces and build trust for peace and security,” Mr. Guterres concluded.