Young rural people are bringing agriculture into the digital age. Meet who鈥檝e cracked the code: how to irrigate crops while saving both time and water.
Science and Technology
As world leaders prepare to gather for the Summit of the Future, meet who are leveraging digital solutions to create a secure future for all of us.
An updated version of the , helps combat UV-related health issues by providing personalized sun protection advice and UV level tracking for up to 10 locations, promoting preventive measures against excessive UV exposure.
When Natacha Sangwa wanted to learn computer coding, people in her life asked, 鈥榙o you really think you'll be able to handle it?鈥 Coding needs time and focus that they believed girls lacked. After all, men hold most of the tech jobs. 鈥淚 was motivated to prove them wrong by learning how to code and pursuing a career in tech,鈥 said Sangwa, who participated in the first coding camp organized under the African Girls Can Code Initiative last year in Rwanda. Sangwa feels that platforms like the African Girls Can Code initiative and Siemens EmpowerHer programme can inspire and encourage more girls to join ICT careers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to leapfrog climate solutions around the globe, transforming climate mitigation and adaptation approaches. However, skill gaps exist between AI providers, governments and users. Moreover, the ethical and safe use of this tool for the climate will require strong enabling and regulatory frameworks. Making AI a meaningful climate technology also requires minimizing the emissions and resource impact of the technology itself. and are hosting a meeting in Bonn (1-2 July) with experts, representatives and decision makers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was in the spotlight at the fifth annual . The Summit is the leading action-oriented UN platform to promote AI to advance global development priorities. In his vision statement UN Human Rights Chief Volker T眉rk says 鈥淎s AI use continues to evolve and impact our daily lives, it鈥檚 crucial that we ensure its development benefits everyone." provides guidance on adopting a human rights-based approach to the development and deployment of technologies, including AI, ensuring they uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.
鈥2.6 billion people don't have access to the internet 鈥 if you're not part of the digital revolution, you're not going to be part of the AI revolution 鈥 we鈥檝e got to close that gap.鈥
Doreen Bogdan-Martin鈥檚 fascinating career handed her a front row seat for the digital revolution. Now Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), she鈥檚 among those leading global efforts to set guardrails on the use of Artificial Intelligence.
鈥淚 think we've never seen anything like this before 鈥 the plane is in flight and we're building it while we're flying - it's tremendous.鈥
AI presents huge opportunities for humanity, but also poses great risks. In this episode, Doreen Bogdan-Martin reflects on working to ensure the humane and sustainable use of AI, on connecting the billions around the world who are not yet online, and on juggling a career with four children.
Photo: 漏ITU/D.Woldu
In the Maldives, partnered with the Islamic Development Bank to deliver state-of-the-art medical drones.
The world has a gender equality problem, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) mirrors the gender bias in our society. Although globally more women are accessing the internet every year. The gender digital divide creates a data gap that is reflected in the gender bias in AI. Who creates AI and what biases are built into AI data (or not), can perpetuate, widen, or reduce gender equality gaps. Removing gender bias in AI starts with prioritizing gender equality as a goal, as AI systems are conceptualized and built. The AI field needs more women, and that requires enabling and increasing girls鈥 and women鈥檚 access to and leadership in STEM and ICT education and careers. Here, young women participants work together on a laptop at during an African Girls Can Code Initiative's coding bootcamp held at the GIZ Digital Transformation Center in Kigali, Rwanda in April 2024.
In Zanzibar, is helping upgrade science labs in secondary schools with funding from KOICA. Watch to learn how this is helping students like Illham to reach their goals.
Hasina's inspirational journey showcases the resilience and potential of Afghan women in ICT, highlighting the transformative power of education and technology.
Natacha Sangwa's inspiring journey breaks stereotypes and empowers girls in technology, highlighting the importance of mentorship in shaping an inclusive tech industry.
AI-driven health promoter, , heralds a groundbreaking approach to disseminating health information on a global scale.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development () is calling for more awareness raising and regulatory frameworks to ensure AI benefits everyone. While AI holds promise for personalizing products and services and optimizing customer support, there are concerns over fair, responsible and ethical use of AI. Currently, global tech giants control most of the data flows and revenues from digital services, posing a threat to fair competition and aggravating existing technology divides. Public policies need to guide innovation and the design of AI to mitigate human biases and ensure that AI-powered goods and services reach vulnerable populations.
The United Nations Secretary-General鈥檚 Envoy on Technology, Amandeep Singh Gill, explores the costs, consequences and creative potential of AI in the context of global efforts to usher in a better future for humanity