1/7/2018
December marked the second anniversary of the Paris climate accord, bringing together the world's leaders to discuss climate change. During these sessions, Microsoft announced its $50 million commitment to expand AI for Earth, the grant-making program that seeks to use artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle some of the world's most pressing environmental problems.
Microsoft views AI as a game-changer in reversing the effects of global warming. It accelerates the processing of big data to enhance our understanding of environmental systems and inform better solutions. This additional funding will be applied to seed grants to create and test new AI applications, investments to help established projects scale, and further development into AI-incorporated platforms for wider accessibility and use. Since inception in early 2017, AI for Earth has already made grants to 35 universities, NGOs, and conservation charities targeting climate, water, agriculture, and biodiversity. LEARN MORE