Highlights

Coalition pledges $1 billion for AI tools. NextLadder Ventures created for funding. Focus on aiding social service professionals.

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Major Philanthropic Coalitions Allocate $1 Billion for AI to Aid Social Services

Philanthropists pledge $1 billion to develop AI tools assisting social service professionals, emphasizing collaboration and focused deployment.

Updated: Sep 02, 2022 10:53

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Major Philanthropic Coalitions Allocate $1 Billion for AI to Aid Social Services

New York, Jul 17 (AP) In a significant move to leverage technology for social good, a coalition of philanthropic funders, including the Gates Foundation and Ballmer Group, has pledged USD 1 billion over the next 15 years. Their goal is to develop artificial intelligence tools designed specifically to aid public defenders, parole officers, social workers, and other professionals who assist Americans facing challenging circumstances.

The announcement was made on Thursday with the introduction of NextLadder Ventures. This new entity will provide grants and investments to both nonprofit and for-profit organizations to create solutions for those often working with limited resources and substantial caseloads.

“The solutions we aim to fund, driven by hundreds of entrepreneurs using cutting-edge technologies, will directly engage with people experiencing economic struggles,” explained Brian Hooks, CEO of Stand Together, a nonprofit founded by billionaire Charles Koch.

Among the contributors are hedge fund founder John Overdeck and the Valhalla Foundation, established by Inuit co-founder Steve Cook and his wife Signe Ostby. Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, and his wife Connie lead the Ballmer Group. The specific financial contributions from each funder remain undisclosed.

The coalition's focus is on fostering economic mobility. They envision AI technologies that could, for instance, effectively match people with resources post-disaster or post-eviction or assist parole officers in closing cases for individuals who have completed requirements but await paperwork.

Kevin Bromer, in charge of technology and data strategy at Ballmer Group, highlighted, “In pooling our efforts and identifying sector gaps, it became evident that we had a unique opportunity to form a co-funded, co-founded investment organization.” Bromer, who will also be on NextLadder's board, noted that it would include three independent board members alongside representatives from the various funders.

Ryan Rippel, who previously managed the Gates Foundation’s economic mobility initiatives, will lead NextLadder. The organizational structure of NextLadder—whether nonprofit or for-profit—is yet to be decided, but any investment returns will be reinvested into new initiatives.

NextLadder is collaborating with AI company Anthropic, which will contribute around USD 1.5 million annually in technical expertise and technology access to its partners. Elizabeth Kelly, head of beneficial deployments at Anthropic, emphasized their commitment to dedicated support for grantees using their language model Claude.

Hooks of Stand Together highlighted the potential of philanthropy to mitigate the risks of these investments, offering these organizations the leeway to develop their ideas. “Our aim is for this to be the pioneering capital that reveals what’s possible,” Hooks stated.

Researchers, including those from the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance, have analyzed risks associated with deploying AI tools in sensitive or high-stakes situations, such as humanitarian contexts. They stress evaluating the tool's suitability, reliability, accuracy, and bias, along with privacy and provider dependence considerations.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology underscores the importance of building AI systems that are accountable and transparent to users.

Hooks assured that any AI solutions funded by NextLadder will be shaped by the needs and feedback of frontline workers, stressing that those solutions must work effectively for them. Despite the potential risks, Hooks emphasized the importance of providing struggling communities access to advanced technologies. “Denying them the benefits of leading-edge solutions is unacceptable,” he concluded. (AP) RD RD

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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