Harnessing AI For A Better World

This book explores the concept of AI for Social Good, a movement that harnesses artificial intelligence to tackle societal challenges. As AI technology rapidly advances, its applications have expanded from enhancing business productivity to improving public infrastructure reliability, touching various sectors of society.

Historically, humans have endeavored to resolve both major and minor societal issues, leading to the development of commercial products and public services. When viewed through the lens of social problem-solving, AI presents unique opportunities to devise solutions that transcend commercial and economic considerations. This book illustrates how AI is already being used to address significant social issues such as environmental protection and the preservation of endangered species, with some initiatives evolving into commercial enterprises.

Through detailed exploration, this book demonstrates the application of AI at various levelsfrom individual well-being and community services to global environmental and public safety concerns. For instance, on a personal level, AI can enhance health, education, and financial access. On a larger scale, it contributes to environmental sustainability and species protection, and at the public level, it is employed in safeguarding against terrorism and in developing green urban spaces.

The narrative unfolds across 11 subtopics, each detailing AI applications through real-life case studies. The book not only highlights AI's role as a catalyst for social change but also addresses its potential negative impacts, advocating for responsible implementation by all stakeholders.

The impact of AI on society is profound and continually evolving. This book aims to illuminate how AI can effectively address social issues, providing readers with insights and examples to inspire solutions within their own contexts.

This book was developed with the help of the education development team at LISMA, an AI company in the United States. CGSI and LISMA are involved in various activities and projects worldwide, such as campaigns, workshops, summer camps (ai4sgcamp.org), and educational materials aimed at solving social problems and realizing social value through AI.

We hope this publication will empower people worldwide to discover and implement AI-driven solutions to the myriad social challenges we face today.

About the author

Tony Choi is an expert and practitioner in the fields of ICT and social impact. He has worked in the Presidential Office of Korea, coordinating ICT policies, and has served in various ICT-related roles across different organizations. He worked as a policy counsel for a telecommunications company and was the Director of Policy and CSR at Microsoft Korea. Additionally, he has worked as an ICT policy and impact evaluation consultant for the World Bank and served as the Executive Director of ICT Hope, a global nonprofit organization.

In 2010, he co-founded a social enterprise called TechForDev in the UK, which aimed to implement impact projects using mobile services in developing countries. His efforts were recognized in 2011 when he was selected as a Young Leader by the BMW Foundation's Europe-Asia program.

He has also provided consulting services on inclusive ICT policies to international organizations like the OECD and the World Bank, as well as to various governments worldwide, including South Korea. In South Korea, he was selected as a fellow at STEPI (Science and Technology Policy Institute) and KISTEP (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning).

Currently, he runs the Consultative Group for Sustainability and Innovation (CGSI), a consulting group focused on sustainability and innovation, collaborating with diverse partners globally.

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