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  • Is AI for Good, Good? + Great Opps, PCDN AI for Impact Newsletter, Jan. 31, 2025

Is AI for Good, Good? + Great Opps, PCDN AI for Impact Newsletter, Jan. 31, 2025

January 31, 2025

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Hey changemakers!

Diving into the world of AI for Good reveals both some really cool opportunities for positive impact, and some areas of deep concern. Here’s some thoughts and resources

The Promise

AI is already having some positive impacts in multiple sectors around the world and how global issues are tackled. From protecting the Amazon rainforest (this one is awesome) to preserving cultural heritage sites, initiatives like Microsoft's AI for Good Lab are showing what's possible. The AI for Good platform is aligning AI with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Make sure to check out their annual AI for Good Summit.

Pretty exciting stuff, right?

The Pitfalls

But hold up. There are serious concerns to address:

  1. Energy consumption: Training a single large language model can use as much electricity as 130 U.S. homes in a year. Yikes!

  2. Who's in control?: It's a mixed bag of tech giants, governments, and international orgs. But how much public interest AI is being created and who controls the data and platforms? Some great work is being done here by the Algorithmic Justice League But shouldn't the public have a say too?

  3. Surveillance overload: AI-powered facial recognition and predictive analytics are raising red flags about privacy and potential abuse.

  4. Ethical quandaries: From biased algorithms to job displacement, there are tricky ethical waters to navigate.

The Way Forward

As a connector and innovator, I believe harnessing AI's power while keeping it in check is crucial. Diverse voices at the table – technologists, policymakers, ethicists, and everyday folks – are needed to shape AI's future.

Two recent books offer contrasting perspectives on this:

  • Reid Hoffman's "Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI" paints an optimistic picture. This innovative "travelog of the future" explores how AI can elevate humanity in education, business, and creativity. Hoffman actively collaborates with GPT-4 throughout the book, offering a firsthand look at AI's potential as a partner rather than a threat. The best part? You can download the PDF for free from the website!

  • Dr. Joy Buolamwini's "Unmasking AI" offers a cautionary tale, highlighting potential dangers like encoded discrimination and the need for algorithmic justice.

Remember, opportunity should be as equally distributed as talent.

What are your thoughts on AI for Good? Hit reply to share your thoughts or favorite resources or fill the super quick survey below.

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News & Resources

😄 Joke of the Day
Why did the AI break up with its chatbot romantic partner?
It needed some processing time.

🌍 News

  • 💰 AI Widening Inequality? Low-income Americans are at risk as AI-driven automation disrupts jobs and deepens economic divides. While tech promises efficiency, it often comes at the expense of workers in vulnerable industries. Read more: Inequality.org

  • 🌪️ AI vs. Extreme Weather – Climate change is fueling more frequent and severe disasters, but AI is emerging as a tool for better forecasting and disaster response. From flood prediction to wildfire tracking, can AI help mitigate damage? Council on Foreign Relations

  • 🌍 The Digital Divide in Africa – Efforts to expand AI and digital access in Africa promise progress, but they also raise concerns about affordability, privacy, and who truly benefits. Is this a step toward equality or just another form of digital colonialism? Global Voices

💼 Organization to Watch
UN Innovation Jobs – A great resource for professionals looking to drive change in AI and innovation for global impact. They post new job opportunities weekly, covering AI ethics, humanitarian tech, and policy roles. Follow here: UN Innovation Jobs

🔗 LinkedIn Connection
Ellie Bertani – CEO of GitLab Foundation, leading efforts in ethical AI and workforce development. With a background in responsible innovation, she’s a key figure in shaping AI’s role in the future of work. Connect here: Ellie Bertani

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

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AI for Impact Opportunities

Come Work with the Institute for Progress, US

The Institute for Progress (IFP) is a non-partisan think tank focused on innovation policy. Our organization works to accelerate and shape the direction of scientific, technological, and industrial progress. IFP works with policymakers across the political spectrum in Washington, DC to make it easier to build the future in the United States,

Job Description: AI+Africa Lead, Natural Language Processing Community of Practice - MERL Tech, REmote

We're hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for the MERL Tech Initiative's Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP)!

Project officer: Parliamentary engagement with digital policy and AI, Home Based

The consultancy therefore focuses on the policy-making role of parliaments on digital policy and AI, including legislation and oversight. It complements the IPU’s existing work on the use of digital technologies and AI in parliaments within the Centre for Innovation in Parliament. 

Complex Systems Summer School Journalism Fellowship - Santa Fe Institute

Santa Fe Institute (SFI) offers a journalism fellowship for accomplished reporters with a demonstrated interest in and record of reporting about matters related to complex systems.

Chief Executive Officer, London Initiative for Safe AI

We are looking for a Chief Executive Officer with experience as a senior manager, start-up founder, or executive to lead LISA's high-performing, agile team in London. Interest in AI safety,  especially large-scale and catastrophic risks from AI, is critical; previous experience of the field or funding ecosystem is desirable.

The Bridgespan Group opening: AI for Social Good

✨ Interested in driving social change through AI? Bridgespan is #hiring an Advisor, AI for Social Good, for its India office

EDRi is looking for an Executive Director (permanent position) - European Digital Rights (EDRi)

EDRi is an international, Brussels-based, not-for-profit association of 50 member organisations, as well as experts, advocates and academics.

The University of Chicago Existential Risk Laboratory is now accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Research Fellowship!

We invite motivated undergraduate and graduate students interested in producing impactful, solution-oriented research on emerging threats that imperil global security (such as those from artificial intelligence, natural and engineered pathogens, nuclear weapons, or risk multipliers such as climate-induced migration, critical infrastructure vulnerability, and interstate conflict) to apply to our 10-week, in-person program on UChicago’s campus.

Senior Data Scientist, Denmark

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you.

Patrick J McGovern Foundation - Strategy Analyst, US

Strategy Analysts advance PJMF’s mission by supporting our efforts to allocate resources to AI and data solutions that help create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future. They are responsible for a set of activities that enable the Foundation’s Strategic Capital team to deploy grant dollars efficiently and effectively, including: monitoring and conducting research on the broader fields of data and AI for good, identifying and evaluating potential grant partners, synthesizing outcomes and lessons learned from existing grants, and providing flexible project support across the Strategic Capital team. This role reports to the Vice President of Strategy & Innovation.

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