Indian brothers look to harness Artificial Intelligence for greater good
As debate swirls on whether Artificial Intelligence will be a boon or a curse for humanity, two Indian-American entrepreneur brothers are out to ensure the emerging technologies don't just benefit the richest in society. Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani, this week, launched what is touted as the world's first non-profit institute dedicated to putting AI to work. Here's all about them.
The institute will ensure better lives for India's poorest
The non-profit institute will ensure AI improves the lives of poor farmers, rural health care workers or teachers in communities with scant resources. "AI will go where AI will go; it is difficult to predict where," said Sunil Wadhwani while speaking on the conflicting views on the emergence of computers more brilliant than their human creators.
Wadhwanis have a series of lucrative start-ups to their names
"Our focus is how many tens of millions of lives can we improve in the next five or 10 years. Where AI goes in 100 years, it will go," he added. The Wadhwanis, who have a series of lucrative start-ups to their names, have committed $30 million over 10 years to the institute, established in Mumbai with the Indian government as a partner.
AI is a game-changing technology: Sunil Wadhwani
Areas targeted, at the outset, will include health care, education, agriculture and urban infrastructure. The project's founders hope AI could help nurses in rural areas with diagnoses, advise how to optimize crops, translate textbooks into various languages as needed or even spot signs students might be on paths to dropping out. "AI is a game-changing technology," added Sunil Wadhwani.
Institute to be headed by former Microsoft Research Director
Sunil further added, "A lot of developing countries are getting left behind; US and China are leapfrogging ahead." Students from New York University and the University of Southern California will travel to Mumbai to collaborate, while the brothers also plan to partner with players in Silicon Valley. The institute will be headed by P. Anandan, a former Microsoft Research Director.
