Five solutions using AI for good

How are these ChangeNOW innovators using AI to solve some of the world's biggest problems?

When OpenAI first released ChatGPT to the public back in November 2022, users were blown away by its versatility and eerily human-like responses to almost any question. Since then, McKinsey has estimated that generative AI could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion to the global economy every year.

Whether it’s businesses using the most cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to transform their operations, or non-expert users asking chatbots to streamline everyday tasks, the use of AI has skyrocketed in recent years.

The dangers of AI

Because the technology has advanced so rapidly – and continues to do so – the world is struggling to keep up. For one, the energy and water demands of AI programmes are huge. It’s estimated that AI could drive a 165 per cent increase in data centre power demand by the end of the decade, requiring huge volumes of water at the same time to keep the systems cool.

Understandable concerns have also been raised in academia, where students could over-rely on AI tools at the expense of their own learning. And online, the proliferation of AI-generated images and deepfakes, as well as AI-facilitated fake news, has caused widespread misinformation and confusion among users – a particular concern during election seasons when these false narratives can impact real voting choices and democracy.

Using AI for good

Luckily, solutionists around the world are working hard to ensure that continued AI development is sustainable – both socially and environmentally. For instance, innovators are developing more energy-efficient AI, including by cutting the emissions of data centres and creating less energy-intensive computer chips.

To help protect businesses from AI risks, platforms are also helping to ensure new AI products are both ethical and regulatory compliant. Meanwhile, other startups are working to create safer generative AI, as well as ensure new machine learning models are both accurate and unbiased.

Although AI, like with all new technologies, comes with risks, innovators are working hard to ensure that society can safely harness the full potential of AI. At ChangeNOW 2025, the largest event of solutions for the planet that’s taking place in Paris later this month, ‘AI for Impact’ is a central theme.

As part of the summit, AI-driven innovations that are using the technology for good will be spotlighted in the exhibition zone, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be responsibly deployed to help tackle our world’s biggest challenges.

To get you excited for the event, we’ve compiled five of our favourite featured ChangeNOW solutions that are using AI for good. Take a look.

Five positive-impact AI innovations

Photo source © blackdiamond67 / Adobe Stock

An AI library of biomimicry strategies

Nature contains an almost unlimited amount of inspiration for biomimicry (strategies used by living organisms that can be applied to human problems) but the huge volume of information can make it difficult for innovators to find exactly what they are looking for. Now, there is a platform – Asteria – that can help. It features a huge, AI-powered library of operational strategies drawn from biology that innovators can use to ‘turn nature’s experience into real-world solutions’. Read more

Photo source Kikleo

AI combats food waste in kitchens

In fast-paced environments like commercial kitchens, it can be easy for large volumes of waste to be created without a second thought. Kikleo uses AI-powered cameras and scales to monitor how much food is being discarded in real time, helping kitchens understand and reduce waste. The cameras are set up above sinks, sorting tables, conveyor belts, and bins and use image processing to automatically identify and quantify the types and amounts of food left on plates and trays. Read more

Photo source © ale_mancuso / Adobe Stock

AR glasses transform neurological rehab

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain condition that can cause problems with movement, including tremors, painful muscle contractions, and difficulty speaking. Now, Strolll has developed an augmented reality (AR) tool that uses AI-powered gamification to help those with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s retain and regain movement. Read more

Photo source © jeong / Adobe Stock

Faster wildfire response with AI

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires, with devastating consequences. Hightek is transforming disaster management with an automated system that includes an innovative avionic camera sensor, which can be installed on helicopters, aeroplanes, and drones. The system then uses AI and deep learning algorithms to provide real-time analysis for faster decision-making and disaster response. Read more

Photo source © patpitchaya / Adobe Stock

An AI-powered fact-checker

As most of us are all too aware, the rise of generative AI has supercharged the growth of both disinformation and harmful online content, causing confusion on basic facts and threatening democratic systems. To combat this, non-profit LaReponse.tech created Vera – an AI-powered fact-checker that lets users clarify information in real time. Users simply call Vera or message it on Whatsapp for free, and the AI trawls through over 350 reliable websites and news sources to provide accessible, fact-checked answers. Learn more

If you want to discover more innovators who are using AI for good, take a look in the Springwise Innovation Database now. Or why not take a deeper dive into the subject with our AI-focused Future Now report?