How AI Is Working to End Poverty

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform industries and make life easier for millions of people. Now, AI is being used to fight poverty in many countries worldwide. The first step in using AI to combat poverty is understanding what causes it. Various factors, such as lack of access to resources, political instability, or economic inequality, can cause poverty. By understanding why poverty exists, AI can be used to create targeted solutions that address these issues. For example, AI can help fight poverty by providing access to resources such as education and healthcare. By connecting people with the resources they need, AI can help them escape or reduce their poverty.   

Let’s look at a few examples of how AI technology can help raise communities out of poverty.  

Generating Electricity 

In many developing countries, people do not have access to electricity due to a lack of infrastructure or because they cannot afford it. However, AI can help to generate electricity for people in these countries by using data about wind patterns and solar radiation levels to identify the best locations for wind turbines and solar panels.

With electricity, these communities gain a source of light at night and the ability to tap into previously unavailable economic and educational opportunities. For example, lighting their homes can increase study time hours while providing them with electronic-based skills they need to boost their employability. Additionally, access to reliable and affordable electricity can spur small businesses to generate income and provide valuable community services. In short, access to electricity is essential in aiding communities to escape poverty, resulting in better living standards for everyone. 

Providing Clean Water 

Access to clean water is one of the fundamental cornerstones of a healthy life and sustainable livelihood. It is no secret that having a reliable source of potable water can serve as a lifeline of hope to people in poverty-stricken countries by providing access to food, cleanliness, and other basic needs. Unfortunately, many people worldwide do not have access to clean water due. AI can help to provide people in these countries with access to clean water by detecting sources of water contamination and working on ways to remove contaminants from water supplies.  

Governments can make major strides toward reducing poverty levels by investing in water infrastructure projects such as wells, pumps, and reservoirs that supply affordable water to citizens. These investments have been found to have multiple benefits for society, including improved education and better health outcomes for generations. With increased access comes increased opportunity and empowerment, helping raise people out of poverty. 

Improving Agricultural Yields 

Agricultural yields are powerful forces for reducing poverty. They provide a reliable source of income, food security, and economic stability in less developed countries where agriculture is still a primary occupation. These increased yields offer higher crop incomes from the same amount of land, allowing farmers to better meet local needs or even export their goods at a profit. Moreover, not only do greater yields result in more affordable food prices for citizens, but they also represent opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship through agribusinesses.  

Farmers in developing countries often lack access to the best farming practices, leading to poor crop yields. However, using data collected by satellites and leveraging predictive analytics, AI can help farmers improve their yields by providing information about things like irrigation and fertilizer use. Additionally, deep learning can help farmers prevent crop losses by identifying and detecting contamination issues earlier by analyzing photos of diseased crops.