Microsoft investing $50 million to Change the World with "AI for Earth” Project

Microsoft is spending $50 million over the next five years on making artificial intelligence technologies (AI) available to researchers and organizations that are working to protect and improve the environment.

The initiative is part of an expansion of the software giant's AI for Earth program. First announced in July, the environmental technology initially was primarily focused on agriculture, biodiversity, water scarcity, and of course, climate change. In October, the program was expanded to include the research involving the world's oceans and the problems affecting them, including pollution, rising sea levels and increasing acidity.

Now, Microsoft has unveiled a multi-faceted approach to further grow the program, including an investment of $50 million over the next five years.

"First, we'll expand seed grants around the world to create and test new AI applications," wrote Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer at Microsoft in a Dec. 11 announcement. "Since our launch of AI for Earth six months ago, Microsoft has awarded over 35 grants in more than 10 countries for access to Microsoft Azure and AI technology. We will also provide universities, nongovernmental organizations and others with advanced training to put AI to its best use."

"At Microsoft, we believe artificial intelligence is a game changer. Our approach as a company is focused on democratising AI so its features and capabilities can be put to use by individuals and organisations around the world to improve real-world outcomes," Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith wrote in a blog post on Monday.

The announcement came on the eve of the second anniversary of the Paris Agreement. AI can be very useful in monitoring, modelling and managing the Earth's natural systems. Data can speak volumes about the health of our home planet, including the conditions of air, water, land and the well-being of our wildlife.

"But we need technology's help to capture this vast amount of data and convert it into actionable intelligence. AI can be trained to classify raw data from sensors on the ground, in the sky or in space into categories that both humans and computers understand," Smith said.

Microsoft will be keeping an eye on things as more participants are accepted into the program and the initiative gains steam, added Smith. If the company spots a promising AI project, it may be eligible for more financial and technical support, providing organizations with a fast track toward the commercialization of their technologies.

Microsoft wants to do it in three ways. First, it plans to expand seed grants around the world to create and test new AI applications. "We will also provide universities, non-governmental organisations, and others with advanced training to put AI to its best use," Smith said.

Next, Microsoft will identify the projects that show the most promise and make larger investments to help bring them to scale. "Finally, as these projects advance, we'll identify and pursue opportunities to incorporate new AI advances into platform-level services so that others can use them for their own sustainability initiatives," Smith said.