(Graphic courtesy of XPRIZE, and used with permission.)

Say "artificial intelligence", and most people think of robots.

But, the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE is taking artificial intelligence much further.

This global competition challenges participants to come up with novel solutions to the world's problems, using AI technologies

Sponsored by the XPRIZE Foundation, the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE challenge is relatively new.  The XPRIZE Foundation announced the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE from the TED stage in 2016.  Every year since, leading up to TED 2020, teams have been competing to advance to the next round, according to XPRIZE's YouTube Channel.

And what these teams have done, is identify a problem or issue they would like to solve.  Then, using artificial intelligence, creativity and innovation, they work towards a new solution.

Meanwhile, XPRIZE Foundation has sponsored seventeen incentive competitions since 1994.  The goal: to bring laypeople together to create breakthroughs that lead to a better future.  XPRIZE Foundationcompetition challenges  have covered areas including health, learning, safety, environment and robotics.

(Graphic courtesy of XPRIZE, and used with permission.)

Devin Krotman is the Director of both the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE and the Global Learning XPRIZE.   We talked about the story of the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE, what teams experience when they compete, and what's next!

 
On this edition of Over Coffee® you will hear:


How Devin first realized the ways in which AI can be used for good;


The story of IBM Watson AI XPRIZE, and how it differs from other XPRIZE competitions;


Some of the ways the participating teams are using AI to solve global problems;


What happens once the competition winners are announced, in April 2020;


How laypeople can support and get involved with the challenge;


A resource Devin found helpful for AI literacy;


How prospective participants can look into entering future XPRIZE challenges;


The active prize for which XPRIZE is currently recruiting (Deadline September 20th!)


What a team can expect to spend and do when signed up for the above XPRIZE;


One of the most inspiring experiences Devin has had, while working with XPRIZE.