Over the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been firmly in the world’s spotlight, and the rapidly advancing technology can often be a source of anxiety and even fear in some cases. But the evolution of AI doesn’t have to be an inherently scary thing — and there are plenty of ways that this emerging technology can be used for the benefit of humanity.
Writing in “AI for Good” (Wiley, 2024), Juan M. Lavista Ferres and William B. Weeks, both senior directors at Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab, reveal how beneficial AI is being used in dozens of projects across the world today. They explain how AI can improve society by, for example, being used in sustainability projects like using satellites to monitor whales from space, or by mapping glacial lakes. AI can also be used in the wake of natural disasters, like the devastating 2023 earthquake in Turkey, or for social good, like curbing the proliferation of misinformation online. In addition, there are significant health benefits to reap from AI, including studying the long-term effects of COVID-19, using AI to manage pancreatic cysts or detecting leprosy in vulnerable populations.
In this excerpt, the authors detail the recent rise of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Claude 3 and how they have grown to become prominent in today’s AI landscape. They also discuss how these systems are already making a significant beneficial impact on the world.
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