Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a significant initiative aimed at enhancing AI education and training globally. At the UN Summit of the Future during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pichai revealed the establishment of the $120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund. This fund will focus on making AI resources accessible in local languages through partnerships with nonprofits and NGOs.
Pichai emphasized the importance of technology in improving lives, sharing his personal journey: “Growing up in Chennai, India, with my family, the arrival of each new technology improved our lives in meaningful ways. The technology that changed my life the most was the computer. I didn’t have much access to one growing up. When I came to graduate school in the US, there were labs full of machines I could use anytime I wanted – it was mind blowing. Access to computing inspired me to pursue a career where I could bring technology to more people,” he stated.
The announcement comes as world leaders gather for discussions on the future of technology and its role in society. Pichai highlighted the impact of Google’s products, noting, “Today, 15 of Google products serve more than half a billion people and businesses each. And six of them – such as Search, Maps, and Drive – each serve more than 2 billion.”
With a focus on AI research and infrastructure, Pichai noted the strides made in language translation: “Using AI, in just the last year, we have added 110 new languages to Google Translate, spoken by half a billion people around the world. That brings our total to 246 languages, and we’re working toward 1,000 of the world’s most spoken languages.”
Pichai also addressed the potential economic impact of AI, referencing studies that suggest AI could boost global labor productivity by 1.4 percentage points and increase global GDP by 7 percent within the next decade. He highlighted AI’s role in improving operations in emerging markets, stating, “AI is helping improve operations and logistics in emerging markets, where connectivity, infrastructure, and traffic congestion are big challenges.”
Emphasizing responsible AI development, Pichai affirmed, “AI must be developed, deployed, and used responsibly, from the start. We’re guided by our AI Principles, which we published back in 2018. And we work with others across the industry, academia, the UN, and governments in efforts like the Frontier Model Forum, the OECD, and the G7 Hiroshima Process.”
The Global AI Opportunity Fund aims to empower communities worldwide by providing essential resources and training, reflecting Google’s commitment to harnessing technology for societal benefit.