Gates Foundation commits $1 billion to help build and deliver equitable AI

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed at least one billion US dollars over the next two years to expand access to artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-enabled solutions. This commitment comes as the foundation released its 10th annual Goalkeepers Report, which focuses on ensuring AI helps narrow gaps between the wealthiest and poorest rather than widening them.

Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, explained that the foundation was created to address market failures, where those in greatest need often have the least power to shape innovation and investment. He emphasized that AI presents a similar challenge at a much faster pace, with market forces likely directing the development of the most capable tools towards those able to pay for them, not necessarily those who could benefit most.

The Goalkeepers Report identifies three key areas where action is needed to make AI tools more equitable: developing tools in every language spoken, creating tools tailored to specific contexts, and investing in people and access so communities can shape how AI works for them. These investments will focus on education, healthcare, agriculture, and building the digital foundation that equitable AI depends on, including diverse language datasets.

According to the foundation, 40% of the funding will support education, including AI tutoring to personalize student learning and teaching tools for classrooms globally. Another 40% will go towards healthcare, including diagnostics, clinical decision support, maternal and newborn care tools, and drug and vaccine discovery. Ten percent will be used for agriculture, focusing on custom AI advice for smallholder farmers based on soil, weather, and crop conditions.

The remaining 10% will be allocated to building the necessary digital infrastructure, such as diverse datasets.

Gates stressed that equitable AI access requires deliberate commitment from governments and technology companies, measuring success not just by the benefits for the most profitable users but for those who stand to gain the most.