Google Announces Artificial Intelligence Impact Challenge; Winners to Receive Grants from $25 million Google Fund

Global tech company, Google has launched its Artificial Intelligence (AI) program called the Google AI Impact Challenge. The program aims to unify engineering and research efforts towards projects with positive societal impact. These projects include: conserving wildlife, finding jobs, predicting floods and prevention of health risks.

We’re announcing our AI for Social Good program, applying @GoogleAI expertise to projects w/ positive societal impact. We invite researchers & orgs to submit ideas for the #GoogleAI Impact Challenge: @googleorg will fund $25M in grants to chosen projects https://t.co/W3BMoueTYo

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 29, 2018

Tagged Google AI Impact Challenge, the competition is positioned by Google such that it would not be restricted to AI experts alone. Thus, institutions like universities, corporate businesses, profit or non-profit organizations can enter for the challenge.

Interested participants are required to submit their ideas, using AI to solve some of the” world’s greatest social, humanitarian and environmental problems.”

Upon acceptance, such groups would be awarded up to $25 million, to “help transform the best ideas into action.”

According to a Google blogpost:

“We’ll help selected organizations bring their proposals to life with coaching from Google’s AI experts, Google.org grant funding from a $25 million pool, and credits and consulting from Google Cloud. Grantees will also join a specialized Launchpad Accelerator program, and we’ll tailor additional support to each project’s needs in collaboration with data science nonprofit DataKind.”

Accepted grantees will be announced at next year’s Google I/O developer conference with their grants made available for them.

And just as Google continues to recognise AI to be very important, so are other AI initiatives springing up for startups and groups.

VivaTech 2019 AI Challenge for African Agro-Startups

Viva Tech, a global event for innovation, startups and digital transformation, threw a challenge in front of African startups. The challenge is to develop AI-based technologies that would use data and predictive algorithm to help predict and monitor climatic impacts. This should also integrate with existing systems and infrastructures, even in areas with limited connectivity. Winner would have one exhibition stand for its startup at Vivatech 2019, in Paris.

Microsoft AI Idea Challenge

Microsoft, is inviting developers, students, professionals and data scientists with innovative ideas to its Microsoft AI Idea Challenge Contest. Apart from prizes to be won, the winner will also collaborate with other developers to create innovative artificial intelligence solutions.

The top three ideas will be chosen after about 14 days of closure. They would each get an opportunity to present their idea with Microsoft on AI Lab. In addition to that the top 3 ideas would also receive prizes. First prize – a 15-inch Surface Book. Second Prize – a DJI Drone Mavic Pro Bundle. And the Third Prize – an Xbox One.