AI Evidence Alliance Launched to Boost Safety, Fairness in Africa and Asia
The AI Evidence Alliance for Social Impact (AEASI) has been launched with a budget of GBP2.75 million (US$3.7 million). The initiative aims to make AI safer, fairer, and more inclusive, particularly in Africa and Asia. Kanishka Narayan, the UK's Minister for AI and Online Safety, has shown support for African-led innovation in AI.
AEASI was announced at the AI for Africa Conference in Cape Town. It is a collaboration between Community Jameel, J-PAL, FCDO, IDRC, IDinsight, and Google.org. The alliance will fund research to generate evidence on the social benefits and harms of AI solutions in Africa and Asia. This research will bring together AI solution developers, policymakers, civil society, and social science researchers. AEASI aims to advance the evidence-informed deployment of AI solutions for social good in the regions. It is part of a wider US$7.5 million collaboration with Google.org to support AI impact evaluations. Narayan emphasizes the importance of making AI safer, fairer, and more inclusive, highlighting the need for such initiatives.
AEASI, with its significant funding and collaborative approach, seeks to identify where AI can drive greater impact and scale effective solutions. By fostering dialogue and evidence-based research, it hopes to shape the responsible development and deployment of AI for social good in Africa and Asia.
