AI and Its Role in Poverty Alleviation: A Look into the Future
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come to the forefront of discussions on poverty alleviation, being discussed as a possible solution to endemic poverty around the globe. With these technologies becoming more sophisticated, the conversation around their potential for countering poverty is becoming more interesting. AI has the potential to alleviate poverty in various ways, from job creation to better and more targeted aid programs. In this article, I explore the ways that AI is positioned to reduce poverty, with a focus on actual case studies that illustrate the potential for success.
AI for Job Creation
The creation of jobs through AI is one of the most viable ways to tackle poverty. With the increasing digitization of the global economy, job opportunities are shifting to the digital realm. AI has the ability to support job creation in what is commonly referred to as the gig economy. The gig economy comprises freelancers who work independently for clients, using their specialized skills to deliver specific services. AI can help to streamline this process by automating various stages of the gig ecosystem, from job matching to payment processing.
A lot of Africans still live below a dollar-a-day and lack sufficient skills. However, initiatives like Zola Electric in Tanzania, which provides home-based solar panels to households, has created the Zola Academy. Zola Academy is a platform for training local residents on solar installation and maintenance. Zola’s digital platforms use AI to match each student with the training modules that best fit their skillset, optimizing the learning experience. The course takes nine months to complete and is free, with the promise of a job after graduation. Programs like the Zola Academy are vital to reducing poverty, providing training and high paying digital jobs to those with few skills or opportunities.
AI for Smarter Aid
Another way AI can tackle poverty is by enabling the provision of smart aid. In many parts of the world, aid organizations work tirelessly to provide basic human needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. Unfortunately, a lot of this aid often fails to reach the people who need it most due to inefficient distribution channels. AI is well-suited to support these organizations in optimizing the distribution of aid. Aid organizations can use data and algorithms to identify the most vulnerable communities, predict crises, and provide real-time information on the best relief programs.
An example of this is One Acre Fund, a non-profit organization that aims to provide farmers in Africa with agricultural inputs, financing, and training. The organization uses machine learning algorithms to analyze satellite imagery, weather reports, and household data to predict crop performance. With this data, One Acre Fund has been able to increase crop yields and boost the income of farmers. Similarly, the World Food Program (WFP) has implemented an AI-powered chatbot that simulates conversations with displaced people in a refugee camp in Uganda. The chatbot, called ‘RefuNet,’ allows refugees to ask questions about their rights, access to aid, and available services. The chatbot has been a success, providing more efficient aid to refugees with more direct input from the families themselves.
AI for Education
Education is also a critical component of poverty alleviation. AI-powered programs have been developed to support learning, specifically for disadvantaged children who do not have access to a traditional classroom. These programs use personalized algorithms to track a child’s progress and tailor their learning experience. They also collect data on the student, which can be used to identify those who need additional resources.
In Tanzania, Bridge International Academies is using AI to provide young students with quality education. The organization uses an AI-powered platform that provides a personalized curriculum based on the student’s learning progress. The platform has a chatbot, which students can access to ask questions if they run into difficulties. Bridge International Academies has been a success in Tanzania, having enrolled over 100,000 pupils in the country. The organization is expanding into other countries, with plans to enter 10 other African countries in the next decade.
AI for Healthcare
Healthcare is a vital component of poverty alleviation, often being the first set of institutions to experience funding cuts during economic strife. AI is showing great promise in supporting healthcare services, especially in low-income countries. With the help of AI, medical practitioners can identify diseases more efficiently, streamline medical services, and access the latest medical research.
In Uganda, teledoctor service, Rocket Health, is providing low cost and reliable healthcare solutions to low-income earners. Rocket Health’s ecosystem comprises of a mobile application and AI-powered chatbot that provides diagnoses, medication recommendations, and consultations with a licensed physician. The teledoctor is not only addressing the cost barrier of accessing healthcare but also increasing access to healthcare in many areas of Uganda by increasing the number of physicians available to those in need.
Conclusion
AI technology has the potential to address many of the root causes of poverty around the world. From job creation to smarter aid programs, AI has the potential to be a force for good. The technologies have been successful so far, with organizations like Zola Electric, World Food Program (WFP), Bridge International Academies, and Rocket Health, delivering significant results. AI technologies are on the cusp of transforming every industry, and in poverty alleviation, humans will witness a tremendous transformation through employability, service delivery, and so much more. The vision of a digital future is becoming clearer, and AI has a role in helping the world’s most vulnerable societies to achieve an existence beyond survival.