Microsoft launches $40M AI program for humanitarian causes

Microsoft has launched a new $40-million program called AI for Humanitarian Action, aimed at harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for disaster recovery, helping children, protecting refugees and displaced people and promoting respect for human rights.

This program was announced at Microsoft's Ignite 2018 conference and will be part of the company's AI for Good program that aims to use artificial intelligence to address some of the society’s biggest challenges.

The tech giant said it would execute the five-year programme in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly meeting by working deeply with select non-governmental and humanitarian organisations through grants, investment of technology and shared expertise.

"We believe that technology, like AI combined with Cloud technology, can be a game changer, helping save more lives, alleviate suffering and restore human dignity by changing the way frontline relief organisations anticipate, predict, and better target response efforts," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blogpost.


Microsoft has committed $115 million to its AI for Good program so far. This includes a $50 million AI for Earth program launched in July 2017 and a $25 million AI for Accessibility initiatives program launched in May this year.

"A fundamental aspect of all our AI for Good initiatives is to combine Microsoft’s technology and expertise in artificial intelligence and data science with the talent and expertise of groups around the world in fields such as environmental science, disability needs and humanitarian assistance" Smith said in the blogpost.

He added the AI for Humanitarian Action program will accelerate the pace of innovation by managing strategic AI projects that demonstrate new applications, delivering reusable solutions and partnering with others to expand and scale initial projects.

In the blogpost, Smith explained that AI can address humanitarian causes in several ways. For instance, AI technologies like machine vision can quickly analyse images of roads damaged or destroyed by an event, making way for a faster and safer response

"In a new partnership with the World Bank, United Nations, and partners from the tech industry, relief organisations will be better able to predict when and where future famines will occur so aid can arrive earlier, potentially saving more lives," he said.

AI can also equip NGOs and organizations with better tools to protect children "Already, we are using predictive analytics and bot frameworks to target both the supply and demand underpinning human trafficking – ultimately disrupting criminals and bringing relief to victims around the world." Smith said.

AI and Machine Learning (ML) also have the potential to improve the lives of approximately 68 million displaced people in the world, 28 million of whom are refugees.

"AI can help optimise the delivery of aid, supplies, and services to refugees and can scale NGOs' efforts to communicate and understand displaced peoples' needs," Smith explained.

The company said it would also collaborate with NGOs and humanitarian organisations to accelerate breakthrough solutions to help monitor, detect and prevent human rights abuses.

To grow these efforts, Microsoft is assembling a new team of data scientists and analysts within the company, led by John Kahan who will join as the Chief Data Analytics Officer for Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, reporting directly to Smith.

"John’s team will have an ambitious mission – to derive new insights and infuse data science to address the world’s great challenges. This will include promoting the sustainable use of the planet’s resources, improving opportunities for people with disabilities, protecting human rights, strengthening humanitarian assistance and increasing the capabilities of the world’s NGOs" Smith said.

Kahan has been one of the key leaders driving Microsoft’s big data strategy and work for over 15 years and has over 33 years of experience driving large-scale data and world-class data science teams, the company said.