Google has unveiled a series of ambitious projects and partnerships at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), focusing on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to accelerate progress on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Central to Google's announcements is a $120 million commitment to make AI education and training available worldwide. This initiative, part of a new Global AI Opportunity Fund, will partner with nonprofit and civil society organisations to provide training in local languages based on AI courses designed by Google and others.
The company also reported progress on several ongoing partnerships with UN agencies. These include the expansion of the UN Data Commons for the SDGs, now integrating data from organisations like the World Health Organisation and the International Labor Organisation. Google has also launched the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal dataset, using AI to extract building information from satellite imagery to support urban planning.
In collaboration with UN Global Pulse and the UN Satellite Centre, Google is working to enhance disaster response capabilities using AI. The company has also formed partnerships with the UN Industrial Development Organisation to address challenges related to EU Deforestation Regulations and advance sustainable industrial development.
Google continues its work with UNICEF and UNESCO to support education initiatives, including the deployment of Chromebooks and the use of Google Classroom.
The announcements come as the UN adopted the Global Digital Compact, an initiative to design a global framework for overcoming digital, data, and innovation divides.