Microsoft has announced the launch of a USD 40 million, five-year initiative designed to help researchers and organisations use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to address global health challenges. The programme is part of the company’s USD 165 million ‘AI for Good’ commitment to tackle issues such as the environment, Accessibility, Humanitarian Action and Cultural Heritage, and will see it work to ensure that non-profits, academia and research bodies have access to the latest technology, resources and technical experts to help implement AI to accelerate research, generate insights and improve access to care.
In a statement Microsoft said the initiative will focus on three core areas, namely studying, preventing and treating diseases; studying mortality and longevity around the world to protect against the next global health crisis; and educing inequity in global healthcare. The company pledged to provide provide grants, data science experts, technology and other resources to help partner organisations tackle a wide range of health projects.
The programme will operate via new partnerships as well as existing collaborations with organisations such as the international development organization BRAC, nonprofit health body PATH, the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, the Novartis Foundation and Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS), among others.
