In a lab in Singapore, an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm accelerates cancer detection, helping doctors pinpoint malignant cells with unprecedented speed and accuracy. On a farm in Kenya, AI-powered sensors analyse soil conditions in real time, guiding farmers towards precision irrigation that boosts crop yields while conserving water. Meanwhile, in the Arctic, machine learning models process satellite imagery to track ice sheet changes, giving scientists an early warning system for rising sea levels.
These breakthroughs highlight a truth often overlooked: AI’s transformative power extends far beyond chatbots and virtual assistants – it holds the key to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Yet, our collective focus remains narrow, fixated on generative AI’s immediate conveniences rather than its deeper potential to reshape entire industries and societies.
At the AI Action Summit in Paris, we saw world leaders jostling for AI supremacy, with talk of investments that keep piling up.
Lost in the “media hype” is analysis of the concrete action on how to use AI where it matters most – in solving global challenges such as climate change and healthcare, which exceed human capacity alone. While the technology exists to address many – perhaps all – of these challenges, its potential is not being explored.
In essence, current efforts are focused on relatively small-scale solutions rather than moon shots. This is why we need to learn to embrace, democratize and use AI.
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