Google wishes to assist people to do productive tasks with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
On Monday, the giant search engine introduced the latest AI contest for universities, non-profits, and other companies doing beneficial AI projects. The challenge is known as the “AI Global Impact Challenge”, and Google has promised $25 million award money.
The contest belongs to the latest Google initiative of “AI for Social Good.” Google claims the contest is to assist in providing solutions to major issues like environmental conservation, crisis relief, and sex trafficking. But it is also happening at a time when Google is under strict inquiry about how its own AI could be utilized, comprising the censored search engine controversy in China.
“We’re all grappling with questions of how AI should be used,” Jeff Dean, Google’s Artificial Intelligence Chief, said at Google’s offices in Sunnyvale, California. “AI truly has the potential to improve people’s lives.”
Winners of the AI challenge will also be provided access to Google’ technical resources and a Google expert will be appointed to help them build their projects. Google has opened the application process and winners will be declared in Google’s annual I/O developer conference next spring.
Last week in an interview, vice president of engineering, Yossi Matias, said:
“The gist of the program is to encourage people to leverage our technology. Google can’t work on everything. There are many problems out there we may not even be aware of.”
For now, Google is enduring criticism on some of its personal AI projects. Workers challenged Google’s decision of doing Project Maven, a US Defense Department AI initiative. According to a report, over 4000 workers signed a petition against the company, demanding it to withdraw from the project. In June, Google left the Maven contract.
Seven days later, Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, announced the moral guidelines about Google’s AI development. He claimed that Google would not be involved in creating AI weapons but it would still work with the military on other projects.
The company also faced criticism for Duplex, an AI software for booking the hair appointment, restaurant reservation and similar things using the Google Assistant. Duplex was criticized because the software dictates like a natural human voice, even speaks verbal expressions like “uhh” and “um”. Critics were concerned that software can deceive people, but after that Google explained that it would reveal that the call is computerized.
According to Matias, “AI for Social Good” initiative is not a reaction to the latest headlines; Google has been working on it for a long time.
On Monday, after his presentation, Dean claimed at a press conference that the contest is not related to Google’s recent disputes. “It’s not really a reaction,” he said.
Google wanted to address less controversial projects. For example, one plan included Google’s team working on “bioacoustics”. The initiative involves working with shipping corporations to save marine life. One more initiative included the project with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State University to increase security on road and manage traffic.
