The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has highlighted the pivotal role artificial intelligence will play in developing innovative tools for health, education, and agriculture.
Speaking during a meeting with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, Gates expressed optimism about AI’s potential to address global challenges.
The philanthropist, during his visit to Jakarta, met with Subianto and Indonesian philanthropists, emphasizing how AI-driven advancements could contribute significantly to solving pressing global issues.
He said, “AI is going to help us discover new tools. And even in the delivery of health, education and agriculture advice, we’ll be using AI.
“Once we finish eradicating) polio, we’d like to try to eradicate measles and malaria as well. We have some new tools for that. And of course, part of my optimism about the innovation is because we now have artificial intelligence.”
In his response, Prabowo said that billionaire philanthropists have donated more than $159 million to Indonesia since 2009, mainly to the health sector, including funding vaccines.
Gates later visited an elementary school in Jakarta alongside Prabowo to see students having free meals as part of a programme launched by the Indonesian leader.
UN agencies have been campaigning for four decades to eradicate polio, most often spread through sewage and contaminated water.