Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has predicted that the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the general population in developed countries, such as the United States, will become “significant” within the next 18 to 24 months. In his year-end letter, Gates emphasized the potential unprecedented impact on productivity and innovation as AI accelerates the rate of new discoveries. While Gates focused on the uses of AI in the developing world, he highlighted the Gates Foundation’s priority of ensuring that these tools address health issues affecting the world’s poorest, such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
According to Gates, the practical implementation of AI applications will occur in the latter years of this decade, with the groundwork laid in the next year contributing to a massive technology boom. Gates cited several examples of AI applications being developed for education and healthcare:
Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A researcher in Ghana is developing a software tool that analyzes local clinical guidelines and health surveillance data to suggest the best drug, dosage, and duration for combating antibiotic resistance.
AI-Driven Personalized Education (Somanasi): In Nairobi, an AI-based tutoring software called “Somanasi” is designed with cultural context in mind, providing a familiar learning experience for students.
Reducing Risks During Pregnancies: In India, a health worker “Copilot” software program is being developed to improve maternal outcomes by offering guidance to nurses and midwives based on their experience level.
Chatbot for Assessing HIV Risk: A chatbot designed to act as an unbiased counselor provides around-the-clock advice to marginalized and vulnerable populations wary of discussing their sexual history with physicians.
Voice-Powered Mobile App for Health Workers: In Pakistan, a voice-powered mobile app enables health workers to fill out medical health records by speaking into prompts during field visits, addressing the lack of documented medical history for many individuals.
Gates emphasized the importance of tailoring AI products to the people who will use them, highlighting the need for equitable development. He predicted that the developing world would not be far behind in adopting AI and emphasized learning from global health experiences to make AI more inclusive and effective.