In 2018, when we launched Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, our goal was ambitious yet clear: to harness the transformative power of AI to tackle global challenges and enhance lives worldwide. In just five years, I’ve watched Juan M. Lavista Ferres and his team of researchers, subject matter experts, and data scientists do just that as they formulate and advance that mission into inspiring results. Every day, they bring a sense of wonder and optimism to their work, solving our most pressing problems and improving lives at scale across society.

This book begins with a useful primer on what AI is and how it’s used in a variety of applications, followed by a series of applied scientific studies. It explores how AI helps today’s leading experts take on global challenges in health, human rights, and climate change. At Microsoft , we talk about the many ways AI offers more potential for the good of humanity than any invention that has preceded it. After reading this book, I hope you’ll share my optimism for the possibilities of this powerful new technology.

An example of this collaboration is the lab’s work on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition in children who are born prematurely. ROP occurs when premature birth disrupts the normal eye development of blood vessels in the retina, often leading to injury of the eye. As more premature babies survive, thanks to neonatal care, the prevalence of ROP has increased. However, if detected early, laser surgery can save a baby’s vision. The challenge is that there are not enough ophthalmologists trained to diagnose and treat ROP, especially in the Global South, where the trend in premature births is rising, but healthcare infrastructure is lagging.

By combining the expertise of ophthalmologists with AI, we’ve developed an app that replaces expensive diagnostic machinery with a smartphone camera powered by AI. This innovation enables healthcare workers in remote areas to swiftly diagnose ROP, increasing access to essential interventions. This simple app not only improves access to important healthcare services, but also eases pressure on a system overwhelmed by an increase in demand. 

When disasters strike, AI can help save lives. In 2023, the world faced fires, earthquakes, and flooding. The AI for Good Lab and its partners used geospatial tools that combined satellite images with AI models to map where buildings had been damaged or destroyed. These tools put real-time, actionable data into the hands of rescue teams, significantly enhancing their life-saving efforts.

When speed is critical, AI can aggregate, analyze, and share information with local authorities, but it cannot substitute the work of responders who are conducting rescue efforts on the ground. It’s this joint effort between technology and decision-makers that reduces the time needed for making life-saving choices and boosts their capacity to act quickly and efficiently.

As these examples show, AI can play a critical role in addressing global challenges. They also reflect our dedication to ensuring that technology’s benefits are available to all.

AI’s potential reminds me of electricity, another world-changing invention from more than a century ago. In 1882, Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station generator lit up homes and businesses in New York City. Yet today, more than 150 years later, access to reliable electricity is still out of reach for more than 700 million people around the world. We must avoid creating a similar gap with AI and ensure that it is available to everyone, everywhere.

The responsibility now falls on us to guide AI’s evolution responsibly. I am grateful for the innovative, compassionate individuals at the forefront of using AI for good.

Aka.ms/AIforGoodBook  

All proceeds from the book will be donated to American Red Cross , supporting their mission to help those in need.