AI2AI Challenge: What we’ve learned so far

At the end of 2024, with generous support from our founding partners at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth , we introduced the awardees of the Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Inclusion (AI2AI) Challenge—five incredible organizations that are scaling innovative AI solutions to drive social impact. Selected from a pool of more than 500 applicants across 82 countries, the AI2AI Challenge awardees are tackling important challenges across the globe.

Just halfway through their grant period, the AI2AI cohort is already posting exciting wins:

• Humble Bee : 450 farmers received beekeeping support
• IDinsight and Last Mile Health : 125 frontline health workers provided 587 AI-assisted consultations
• International Rescue Committee : 951 individuals received support from Signpost AI
• Link Health : 4,293 people screened for benefits access
• Quipu : 5,000 people enabled access to financial services and 11,892 users interacted with AI financial assistant

Altogether, more than 23,000 people have been served in just over six months, including hundreds trained in AI skills. Our AI2AI cohort has also secured more than $1.4 million in additional funding to further scale and accelerate their impact. 

Together, we’re learning a lot with our awardees, and we’re excited to continue to share those insights with the world. But at a high level, here are three early observations:

1. AI is a tool to reach underserved and overlooked populations.
2. AI—when used responsibly and ethically—is improving efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making for organizations and their beneficiaries.
3. Now more than ever, organizations must demonstrate trustworthiness to their end beneficiaries. 

And that’s just scratching the surface. 

We’ll have many more updates to share from the AI2AI cohort as their projects proceed, and from the dozens of past Challenge awardees and global network partners who we spoke with for the upcoming Accelerate 2025 report, which will be released next month. Stay tuned!

Read

Alister Martin | Link Health | Harvard University | Harvard Medical School | Massachusetts General Hospital | City of Boston

“There’s gotta be a better way to do this.” Dr. Alister Martin was doing his best to improve patient outcomes as an ER physician, but was frustrated by the many ways in which the health care system was failing the community. In our latest Pathways to Impact interview, Dr. Martin talks about the origin story and the future of Link Health, one of our AI2AI Challenge awardees. Read here.

Watch

Mercedes Bidart | Quipu | Cartier Women's Initiative

Mercedes Bidart is throwing out the rulebook. As the CEO of the first financing platform for informal microbusinesses, this AI2AI Challenge awardee talks to the Cartier Women's Initiative about the cost of being poor and how we can reimagine the economic system in a way that benefits all. Watch here.

Explore

Humble Bee | Monika Shukla

Buzzworthy’s BEEKIND is an AI-driven mobile application to revolutionize the beekeeping ecosystem in India. By prioritizing ethical beekeeping and empowering small farmers, the initiative aims to put India on the global map as the “honey nation.” Follow their journey and consider trying Humble Bee Honey for yourself. Learn more.