Welcome to the November 2024 roundup of positive AI stories! Each month, I gather examples of how AI is being used responsibly and thoughtfully to improve lives, foster sustainability, and inspire meaningful change. In an ever-evolving digital world, it’s essential to highlight the positive impacts AI can make when developed with ethics in mind. Let’s dive into this month’s top stories of AI at work for good.

1. Breast Cancer Detection

Over two months, an AI reviewed more than 12,000 mammograms from 15 NHS Trusts in the UK, identifying cancers that were undetectable to the human eye. Working alongside radiologists, this AI helps to reduce the number of missed cancers and lower false positives.

Read more here: BBC News

2. AI Granny Fighting Scammers

UK telecom provider O2 has created AI grandma ‘Daisy’ (or dAIsy) to help keep scammers on the phone for as long as possible, preventing them from targeting real people. Trained with anonymised scammer data, Daisy sounds indistinguishable from a human and has successfully kept scammers on calls for 40 minutes at a time.

Read more here: Virgin Media O2

3. Squirrel Agent

Genysys Engine have developed an AI they call ‘Squirrel Agent’ to identify red squirrels by their whiskers. Currently in trial across the UK with five wildlife charities, this AI could be used to automatically control access to squirrel feeders helping to manage the red and grey squirrel populations.

Read more here: BBC News

4. Advancing Sustainable Supply Chains

In Egypt, AI is helping industries like textiles and agriculture align production with demand, track resources, and cut carbon footprints, driving more sustainable business practices.

Read more here: Supply Chain Brain

5. Personalised Infection Treatments

Researchers at the University of Liverpool’s Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) have developed an AI-driven approach to personalise infection treatment. This method helps clinicians target infections more accurately, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance - a growing global health concern.

Read more here: University of Liverpool

Conclusion

November has shown us that AI is making significant strides in areas that matter. Each of the stories highlighted in this roundup demonstrates AI's potential to improve lives, make critical processes more efficient, and support sustainability. It reminds us that, where there can be concerning news stories about AI, it's not all doom and gloom and it certainly has its place in society when used responsibly. So, stay tuned for next month's roundup!

Want more good news stories? Find them all here!

Get Involved!

Found these stories inspiring? Share this post with others who may be interested in the positive side of AI, and let’s keep the conversation about ethical, impactful tech going. I’d love to hear your thoughts or any other positive AI stories you’d like to share in the comments below!

Daisy & Squirrel Agent | ChatGPT