As the global tech community debates the potential impact of AGI and focuses on developing yet another open-source AI library, it's important to remember that there are real people in the world who are struggling. From refugees arriving in a new country without knowing the local language, teenagers dealing with mental health challenges, and asylum seekers whose human rights are violated, we must use our talents and privileges to help those in need.
While it may be challenging to create a business model around reducing the suffering of vulnerable individuals, there are opportunities for companies to do more good. Tech To The Rescue, a global community of socially-oriented technology companies, is exploring these opportunities and recently invited tech talent to leverage AI breakthroughs to quickly develop solutions aimed at helping those who are struggling.
Largest AI for Good hackathon to date
Last week, Hack To The Rescue: Generative AI for Good hackathon united over 500 tech experts and enthusiasts worldwide. They developed AI-powered solutions for 11 different social and environmental challenges. The hackathon highlighted the potential of generative AI to address social and environmental issues.
The event gathered enormous support. From tech giant sponsors - Zendesk, AutomationAnywhere, and Clutch through event Partners like Lenovo, Twilio, and AWS, to over 30 different community partners. Hackathon also attracted over 60 mentors and speakers willing to inspire and advise hacking teams and Tooploox, a leading AI service provider, as a knowledge Partner.
Fixing the world in under 30 hours
The participating teams had only 30 hours to create their solutions. What would typically take weeks or months to develop was possible in less than two days. The success of the project not only emphasizes the tech industry's potential to support the nonprofit sector and confirms its role as an agent of positive change.
Real solutions to foster democracy, human rights, and equality
Generative AI experts and adepts created forty different ideas to address the challenges proposed by nonprofits. From mental wellness chat for youth to a fake news detection tool, organizers estimate solutions will help 1 million people within a year. Their implementation has already started. Few highlights?
Socialbee, a leading German nonprofit, chose a winning project designed by a team from a software company - Miquido. Their AI tool aims at breaking down language barriers for millions of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide. The tool auto-translates complex legal documents into more straightforward language using generative AI, fostering a more inclusive and accessible society.
But that was not the only project promoting Human Rights. Indigenous Rights Advocacy Tool created for Cries (a nonprofit from Panama) uses AI to identify and classify instances of human rights violations involving indigenous communities. The solution developed by technology experts from SimplifyNext raises global awareness and drives change.
Another major highlight from the Hack To The Rescue event was the Autistic Fact-checker by the team from Visium, created for the European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP ). By leveraging AI, Autistic Fact-checker helps to identify and debunk false information about autism circulating online, promoting a safer and more informed digital community.
AI most probably won't kill us. The opposite - it can help with healing.
During last week's hackathon team from Deloitte developed a chatbot to help youth (and their guardians) to better navigate help resources in times of mental crises. The project was created for UNAWEZA, a foundation by Martyna Wojciechowska, in response to their latest report, "Young Heads," sounding the alarm about the state of mental health of Polish youth.
UNAWEZA awarded one more team, or rather a solo hacker, working on their challenge. Marcin Bodych from EY was appreciated by the judges for his out-of-the-box solution. Following psychology experts' consultations during the hackathon, he designed a tool to help people in mental crises better express their feelings through AI-generated images.
Endless possibilities
Other solutions developed at Hack To The Rescue include:
· A tool to demystify and simplify complex legal texts and terms.
· Virtual AI-backed mentors for young activists
· An environmental changemaker - an AI-backed image processing project helping Poland's largest circular economy community save tons of waste.
· Three different matchmaking solutions to foster partnerships for change developed for UNDP, B Lab Europe
Additionally, a solution developed by Cloudflight for Tech To The Rescue will benefit future hackathons and the whole #techforgood movement. Their matchmaking tool for tech companies and nonprofits multiplies the number of potential partnerships.
Bright future ahead?
Hack To The Rescue: Generative AI hackathon demonstrated the immense potential of technology, particularly generative AI, in addressing social and environmental challenges. The collaboration between tech experts, enthusiasts, and nonprofits has resulted in innovative tools and solutions that can make a difference in people's lives.
We firmly believe that every company in the world has the potential to use its talent to create a positive impact without incurring additional costs. Our approach involves identifying over 20 zero-cost models that allow companies to learn new technology, utilize non-billable hours, and engage in well-prepared hackathons full of brilliant ideas. We are excited about the opportunity for talented individuals to contribute to society and make the world a better place."
Jacek Siadkowski, co-founder of Tech To The Rescue and organizer of the hackathon
By harnessing the power of generative AI and fostering strategic partnerships, the tech industry has shown that it can become a real changemaker in today's world. As we continue to support such initiatives, the future holds tremendous promise for a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable society for all.
The potential of AI advancements to positively impact societies, particularly those most vulnerable, is a fascinating topic to consider. The strides we can make in just a few months are astounding, but the key to driving real change is to focus on addressing issues that directly affect people's lives. One initiative that is making a significant impact in this regard is the TTTR movement. Individuals can access opportunities to make a positive difference at no additional cost to their organizations by getting involved. We can work towards creating a better world for all with collective efforts.