IBM selects 5 urban sustainability nonprofits to accelerate with AI tools, computing resources

IBM is leading a new initiative in urban resilience and climate adaptation. As part of this initiative, IBM has selected five nonprofits focused on urban sustainability for its two-year Sustainability Accelerator program, providing them with AI and cloud computing resources to enhance their missions.

Program Overview: IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program aims to support organizations working toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities safer, more resilient, and sustainable.

• The program provides recipients with access to IBM’s AI technology, hybrid cloud infrastructure, and technical expertise
• Five organizations were selected from over 100 applications based on their community impact and proposed AI applications
• The support will be delivered over a two-year period to help scale their respective missions

Selected Organizations and Their Missions: Each recipient organization focuses on distinct urban challenges that can be addressed through advanced technology and data analytics.

• C40 Cities will develop AI-powered solutions to analyze and address extreme heat risks and urban heat island effects
• Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy will create a city data analytics platform to optimize resource allocation in Indian cities
• Kota Kita plans to implement AI models to help Indonesian communities better prepare for climate-related stresses
• Mass General Brigham will develop an AI tool to predict and respond to extreme heat events affecting vulnerable patients
• The U.N. World Food Programme will enhance its GeoTar mapping tool with AI capabilities to improve food security response

Technology Implementation: The integration of IBM’s AI and cloud computing resources will enable these organizations to significantly expand their current capabilities.

• Organizations will receive access to IBM’s hybrid cloud infrastructure to process and analyze large datasets
• AI models will be developed to predict and respond to various urban challenges
• Data analytics platforms will help consolidate and interpret city-level information for better decision-making

Looking Beyond Current Applications: The selection of these diverse organizations signals a growing trend of applying enterprise-level AI technology to address complex urban sustainability challenges, though success will ultimately depend on the effective implementation and adoption of these tools by local communities and decision-makers.