The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT is funding eight new research projects through its initiative, Project AI Evidence (PAIE), to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can combat poverty.
PAIE seeks to determine which AI solutions are effective, inclusive, and responsible, and aims to scale these solutions while phasing out those that may cause harm. By collaborating with governments, technology companies, and nonprofits, PAIE connects these entities with economists at MIT and within J-PAL’s global research network to evaluate AI’s efficacy in addressing social challenges.
The initiative addresses key questions that policymakers are considering, such as whether AI-assisted teaching tools enhance learning for all children, how AI can help mitigate the effects of natural disasters through early-warning systems, and if machine learning can reduce deforestation in the Amazon. PAIE will organize funding competitions in the upcoming years to evaluate AI tools addressing these and other critical issues.
Funding for PAIE comes from several sources, including Google.org, Community Jameel, Canada’s International Development Research Centre, UK International Development, Amazon Web Services, and the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund. The initiative also plans to study the impact of generative AI in workplaces, particularly in lower-income countries.
Key leaders in PAIE include MIT and J-PAL experts, working under the strategic priority of generative AI emphasized by MIT’s president. The initiative’s first evaluations address urgent education, health, climate, and economic questions. These evaluations include examining AI’s role in classrooms in Kenya and India, assessing its capacity to reduce gender bias in schools in Italy, and evaluating its potential to uncover job opportunities in Kenya.
As AI usage in the social sector grows, PAIE’s research represents a step toward finding effective solutions to alleviate poverty. J-PAL invites collaboration with governments and organizations interested in using AI responsibly, aiming to expand funding and provide policy guidance based on new evidence. The initiative underscores the importance of maximizing AI’s benefits while minimizing its risks.
Source: MIT News |
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