Meta has unveiled the winners of its first-ever Llama Impact Grants and Llama Impact Innovation Awards, supporting projects that leverage its open-source AI models to address global challenges.
Meta launched the Llama Impact Grants programme in October 2023, seeking innovative proposals that use its AI models to tackle issues in education, the environment, and technological innovation. The company has now selected four organizations to receive substantial funding for their projects.
Three organisations will each receive $500,000 USD:
1. Wadhwani AI: Developing an AI-enabled reading assessment to enhance English fluency in public schools in Gujarat, India.
2. Digital Green (in partnership with One Acre Fund): Creating a multilingual AI chatbot for agricultural advisory services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Building an open-source AI platform to match cancer patients with clinical trials.
Additionally, runner-up Jacaranda Health will receive $300,000 USD to expand its digital health tool, PROMPTS, which supports expecting mothers across several African countries.
Alongside these grants, Meta announced the winners of the Llama Impact Innovation Awards. These awards, offering up to $35,000 USD plus matched ad credits, aim to support organisations in Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia Pacific, and Latin America that are already using Llama to address local issues.
Notable award recipients include:
- Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence's BiMediX2: A bilingual biomedical expert system providing virtual medical advice in English and Arabic.
- HelpMum's Vax-Llamamodel: An AI-driven model delivering accurate vaccination information.
- Tanzania AI Community's Twiga: A chatbot assisting teachers with generating exams and course materials tailored to the Tanzanian curriculum.
Meta's initiative has quickly grown from its initial grant programme into a portfolio of grants, awards, hackathons, and community-building. The company has also announced that applications for the Llama 3.1 Impact Grants are open until November 22, 2024, encouraging further innovation using their AI models.