Speaking at the UN Summit of the Future, Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, announcing the creation of a $120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund aimed at expanding AI education and training worldwide. In his speech, Pichai emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI), describing it as the “most transformative technology yet,” while also acknowledging the challenges and risks it presents.
Pichai outlined four key opportunities for AI in advancing sustainable development:
- Access to Information in native languages.
- Accelerating Scientific Discoveries.
- Disaster Alerts and Climate Tracking.
- Driving Economic Growth.
He also expressed concern over a potential global “AI divide”, urging for smart, global regulation to ensure equitable benefits and prevent protectionist approaches that could exacerbate disparities in access to AI advancements.
The Global AI Opportunity Fund will be operated in partnership with local nonprofits and NGOs, making AI education accessible to communities across the globe. Pichai stressed that responsible AI development is essential, calling for a balanced approach to address concerns like deepfakes, bias, and the impact of AI on the future of work.
This new fund builds on Google’s existing efforts, such as the “Grow with Google” program, which has already trained 100 million people globally in digital skills. Pichai sees AI as a pivotal tool to boost global productivity and fuel economic growth, predicting a potential 7% increase in global GDP within the next decade.
