The Private, Public and Impact Sectors Join Forces for AI for Good
Close to 4,000 people are expected to attend the 2020 United Nations AI for Good Summit in Geneva. Senior executives
from impact organizations and major companies and high-ranking government officials from around the world will gather in May to further the use of artificial intelligence, technology and data to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems as outlined by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 
Two things stood out to me when I attended the conference last year. The first was the speed of development and scale of deployment of new data-driven technology applications for public impact. The second, was the absence of financial capability organizations from the US and developed countries at the conference.
Data-driven technology is the most powerful economic force in the world today and thousands of companies and entire industries (e.g. travel agents) that did not adapt in the private sector are gone. The innovation wave is now breaking over the impact sector and organizations that do not innovate and scale with new technology are beginning to suffer a similar fate.
Like the private sector, only a small percentage of nonprofit executives appreciate the speed at which new technology can make their processes obsolete. Technology innovation and impact isn’t linear. When innovation produces rapid improvement in outcomes, lowers cost and proves scaleable, it spreads exponentially and other organizations must quickly adapt or become obsolete.
While an organization's work may be beneficial and admirable, clients and funders disappear quickly if it can’t keep up.
