Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces $120 million fund for global AI education

Speaking at the UN’s Future Summit on Saturday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai described AI as “the most transformational technology yet” and announced a new fund for AI education and training around the world.

Pichai pointed to four broad opportunities for AI and sustainable development: helping people access information in their own languages, accelerating scientific discovery, tracking and providing alerts about climate disasters, and boosting economic growth.

Pichai acknowledged that AI also presents risks, for example deep fakes, though he did not mention AI’s impact on climate.

He said he wanted to avoid a global “AI divide” and that Google was creating a $120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund, through which it would “provide AI education and training in communities around the world” in partnership with local nonprofits and NGOs.

On the same topic, Pichai called for “smart product regulation that minimizes harm and resists national protectionist impulses” — otherwise, he predicted regulation could “widen the AI ​​divide and limit the benefits of AI.”