Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, is launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations in their development of generative AI technologies.

Dubbed the Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI, this initiative is backed by a $20 million grant fund and will initially involve 21 nonprofits. Among the selected organizations are Quill.org, which specializes in AI-driven tools for enhancing student writing skills, and the World Bank, which is working on a generative AI application to democratize access to development research.

In addition to financial support, participants in the six-month accelerator program will receive technical training, workshops, mentorship, and guidance from dedicated AI coaches. Furthermore, through Google.org’s fellowship program, teams of Google employees will collaborate full-time with three of the selected nonprofits—Tarjimly, Benefits Data Trust, and mRelief—for up to six months to assist in launching their generative AI projects.

Tarjimly aims to utilize AI for language translation to aid refugees, while Benefits Data Trust is leveraging AI to develop virtual assistants supporting caseworkers in assisting low-income individuals with public benefits enrollment. Meanwhile, mRelief is working on a tool to simplify the application process for U.S. SNAP benefits.

Annie Lewin, Director of Global Advocacy at Google.org, highlighted the potential of generative AI to enhance the productivity, creativity, and effectiveness of social impact initiatives. She noted that Google.org funding recipients have reported achieving their objectives in significantly less time and at lower costs with the aid of AI technology.

Despite the promising outlook, nonprofits face various challenges in adopting AI solutions, including cost constraints, resource limitations, and insufficient training and awareness. Lewin referenced a Google.org survey indicating that while the majority of nonprofits recognize the potential benefits of generative AI, many are not currently utilizing the technology due to these barriers.

However, there is growing momentum in the nonprofit sector towards AI innovation. Fast Forward, a nonprofit accelerator, reported a significant increase in AI-focused applicants for its latest cohort, and numerous organizations worldwide are actively exploring ethical approaches to AI, including AlgorithmWatch, JoyEducation, and Earth05.

As Google.org launches this ambitious initiative, it aims to catalyze innovation in generative AI within the nonprofit sector, ultimately empowering organizations to better serve their communities and advance their missions.

Source: TechCrunch