Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces $120 million fund for global AI education

In a speech Saturday on the United Nations Future Summit, Google CEO Sundar Pichai called artificial intelligence “the most groundbreaking technology ever created” and announced a brand new fund to support AI education and training world wide.

Pichai highlighted 4 broad opportunities he sees for AI and sustainability, in response to the transcription of his prepared remarks — helping people access information of their native language, accelerating scientific discovery, providing alerts and tracking of climate disasters, and driving economic progress.

Pichai admitted that AI also carries some risks, for example in the shape of deepfakes, but didn’t mention the impact of AI on the climate.

He added that he desires to avoid a global “AI divide” that mirrors the present digital divide, which is why Google is making a $120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund through which the corporate will “bring AI education and training to communities around the world,” delivered in local languages, in partnership with local nonprofits and NGOs.

In the identical context, Pichai called for “smart product regulation that mitigates harm and resists national protectionist impulses” — otherwise, he predicted, regulations could “deepen the AI ​​divide and limit the benefits of AI.”