Tech

Google.org launches $20M generative AI accelerator program

Google.org, the charitable arm of Google, is introducing a new initiative to support nonprofits developing technology powered by generative AI.

Named Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI, this initiative will be backed by $20 million in grants and will initially involve 21 nonprofits. Among the participants are Quill.org, focused on AI-driven tools for student writing feedback, and the World Bank, developing a generative AI app to enhance accessibility to development research.

In addition to financial support, nonprofits selected for the six-week accelerator program will receive technical training, workshops, mentorship, and guidance from an “AI coach.” Furthermore, through Google.org’s fellowship program, teams of Google employees will collaborate full-time with three nonprofits — Tarjimly, Benefits Data Trust, and mRelief — for up to six months to assist in launching their generative AI tools.

Tarjimly aims to utilize AI for language translation to aid refugees, while Benefits Data Trust is leveraging AI to create assistants supporting caseworkers in assisting low-income applicants with public benefits enrollment. mRelief is developing a tool to streamline the U.S. SNAP benefits application process.

Annie Lewin, director of global advocacy at Google.org, highlighted in a blog post that generative AI can enhance the productivity, creativity, and effectiveness of social impact teams. She noted that recipients of Google.org funding have reported achieving their goals in one-third of the time and at nearly half the cost with the help of AI.

According to a survey by PwrdBy, 73% of nonprofits believe that AI innovation aligns with their missions, and 75% believe AI makes their work easier, particularly in areas like donor categorization, routine tasks, and mission-driven initiatives. However, nonprofits encounter significant barriers to building or adopting AI solutions, including cost, resources, and time.

Lewin cited a Google.org survey indicating that while four out of five nonprofits see the potential of generative AI for their work, nearly half are not using the technology due to various internal and external obstacles. These obstacles include a lack of tools, awareness, training, and funding.

There is a growing interest in nonprofit AI-focused startups, with more than a third of applicants for Fast Forward’s latest accelerator class being AI companies. Additionally, numerous nonprofit organizations worldwide are exploring ethical approaches to AI, such as AI ethics lab AlgorithmWatch, virtual reading clinic JoyEducation, and conservation advocacy group Earth05.

Refrence: https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/28/google-org-launches-20m-generative-ai-accelerator-program/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *