AI impact on the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Presented by Mr Amir Banifatemi, Prize Lead of the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE at the UN briefing on AI, the UN Headquarters in New York, 20 April 2017

2. XPRIZE IS THE WORLD’S LEADING PRIZE
ORGANIZATION CREATING GLOBAL
COMPETITIONS TO SOLVE THE GRAND
CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.
AN XPRIZE IS A HIGHLY
LEVERAGED, INCENTIVIZED PRIZE
COMPETITION THAT PUSHES THE
LIMITS OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE – TO
CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE
BETTER AND BUILD A BRIDGE TO
ABUNDANCE.

3. XPRIZE’S ROAD TO ABUNDANCE
AWARDED
$34 MILLION
ACTIVE
$82 MILLION

4. p. 4
The need for patients to have
more control over their health
given the healthcare crisis.
Turning science fiction into
science reality by creating a
Star Trek-inspired medical
device that puts healthcare in
the palm of every person on
earth.

5. GRAND CHALLENGE
The need for patients to
have more control over
their healthcare.
COMPETITION
Turning science fiction into
science fact by creating a
Star Trek-inspired medical
device that puts healthcare in
the palm of patients’ hands.
1
8
Create accurate, affordable
pH sensors to improve our
understanding of ocean
acidification.

6. p. 6
An estimated 250 million children
around the world cannot read,
write, or do basic arithmetic.
Develop open source software
solutions that will facilitate an
autonomous learning environment
for children living in remote areas
of the world.

7. HUMANITY

8. SOLVE
HUMANITY’S
GRANDEST CHALLENGES

9. We already use Big Data for Public Good
We already benefit from predictive abilities of data

27.  Big Data has paved the way to predictive capabilities and
reporting
 AI systems augment the perception, cognition, and
problem-solving abilities of people:
- Detecting and classifying patterns
- Automating controls
- Evaluating situations
- Understanding problems and possible solutions
- Reasoning about outcomes

29. AI Systems rely on data and machine learning algorithms to
address
Simple problems
Complex problems

30. Complex problem
Complex Algorithms
Need for large data sets
Simpler problem
Simpler Algorithms
Need for small data sets

31. Complexity
of challenges
Importance
SDGs

32. 8000 people surveyed to rank
Grand Challenges Impact with
Exponential Technologies

33. 1. Ensuring basic needs are met for all people
2. Sustaining and improving quality of life
3. Mitigating future risks
* XPRIZE, Singularity University, CGI, WEF, AI Community etc.

36. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR, VR)
Robotics and Drones
3DPrinting, Digital Fabrication
Nanotechnology
Internet of Things (IoT), Sensors
Synthetic Biology, Digital Biology and Biotech
Universal Computing and Networks
Enabling solutions that impact 1Billion+ people

37. SDG 1 SDG 2 SDG 3 SDG 4 SDG 5 SDG 6 SDG 7 SDG 8 SDG 9 SDG 10 SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 14 SDG 15 SDG 16 SDG 17
Ensuring Basic
Needs for all
x x x x
Sustaining and
improving
quality of life
x x x x x x x x
Mitigating
future risks
x x x x x

38. Complexity
of challenges
Scale of
Impact
SDGs
SDGs

39. Grand Challenges and SDGs are interrelated and interdependent
• Solving for water challenge  help address health challenges
• Progress in learning  help address prosperity challenge
-> How can we design roadmaps to address SDGs faster?

40. AI is in the frontline of all exponential technologies
How to quantify the impact that AI can have?
Existing efforts can now be leveraged together
1. Using legacy data
2. Using AI breakthrough
3. Providing focus and objectives on most important challenges
4. Quantify the impact that AI Can

41. AI will be the most important collaboration tool ever created
We need to allow everyone to use it for Impact, for Good

42. p. 43 PRESENTATION NAME | DATE