The Global Summit on the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence strikes a balance between artificial intelligence governance and artificial intelligence solutions, promoting healthcare and climate change

The Goal of "AI for Good": Harnessing AI to Benefit Humanity

The goal of "AI for Good" is to explore the practical applications of artificial intelligence to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to connect AI innovators with decision-makers from both the public and private sectors to help scale AI solutions globally. "AI for Good" is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations' specialized agency for information and communication technologies, in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies. This summit is co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland.

The landmark 2017 AI for Good Global Summit marked the beginning of a global dialogue on the potential of AI as a force for good. The action-oriented summits in 2018 and 2019 gave rise to numerous AI for Good projects, including several ITU “pre-standardization” initiatives aimed at exploring the standardization needs for high-potential AI use cases.

In September 2022, the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) officially partnered with ITU's AI for Good initiative to expand its scale and impact. IFIP President Anthony Wong stated that this collaboration advances IFIP’s mission and vision. Founded over 60 years ago under the sponsorship of UNESCO, IFIP is dedicated to the professional, socially responsible development and application of information and communication technologies worldwide.

The 2023 AI for Good Global Summit saw the participation of over 2,500 attendees and online engagement from more than 22,000 members of the AI for Good Neural Network platform, making it the world’s largest and most inclusive AI solutions and matchmaking event.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin captured the spirit of the initiative at the summit, saying: "AI for Good is more than just an initiative; it is a global community committed to using technology to benefit humanity."

The fourth AI for Good Global Summit featured over 50 robots and multiple themed stages focused on robotics, the Sustainable Development Goals, and space exploration—an event that stood as a testament to successful collaboration. Frédéric Werner, Head of Strategic Engagement at ITU, reflected on the summit’s success, stating: "Our strength lies in our partnerships, our shared vision, and our unwavering commitment to using technology to create a fairer world."

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Achievements and Initiatives

#AIforGood's accomplishments include the launch of the AI for Good Innovation Factory—a United Nations-hosted startup accelerator aimed at helping startups develop and scale their AI and SDG-driven solutions. Stephen Ibaraki, AI for Good Outreach Chair, stated: "One of AI for Good’s goals is to identify practical applications of AI to advance the SDGs. As a judge and mentor in the Innovation Factory, I have seen countless AI applications come to life—solutions that anyone can use, anywhere. This is the real-world impact of AI for Good." This year’s winner, UltraSound AI, was honored at the Global Summit.

Seizo Onoe, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB), emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative, stating: "The Innovation Factory gives wings to ideas that can change the world. It proves the power of shared ambition and creativity."

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New Global Initiative on AI for Health

At the AI for Good Global Summit, the United Nations announced a new initiative focused on expanding the application of AI in healthcare. This initiative aims to ensure that AI realizes its full potential in supporting diagnosis and treatment, and in delivering more efficient and inclusive healthcare services. The Global Initiative on AI for Health is co-led by the ITU, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The program aims to establish technical standards and policy guidance, promote knowledge and data sharing, and support decision-making for evidence-based AI health solutions. It builds on the momentum created by the ITU-WHO Focus Group on AI for Health established in 2018. Thomas Wiegand noted: "The unity of our organizations demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can create solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges."

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AI for Climate Action

During the 2023 Global Summit, another initiative was launched. The ITU, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNESCO, and the World Bank jointly launched the AI for Climate Action Challenge, aiming to develop AI-based solutions to address the impact of climate change on food security and sustainable water resources (IAEA, 2023).

ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas remarked: "We look forward to representing the digital industry at the 28th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and demonstrating that digitalization can be a key solution to the climate crisis—and that the digital industry is taking sustainability seriously."

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A Global First: Robot Press Conference

One of the summit’s highlights was the world’s first humanoid robot press conference, with eight robots answering a wide range of questions—from “Do you think humanoid AI robots could govern more effectively than humans?” to “As AI becomes more powerful and complex, how can we humans continue to trust you machines?”

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Join the Movement

AI for Good invites the global community to contribute resources, expertise, and funding. Your involvement will shape the future of AI for Good—and ultimately, the future of our world. Let us work together to create a future of positive change. Stay tuned for the fifth edition of the AI for Good Global Summit, to be held from May 20 to 24, 2024.