The Hero Awards, in collaboration with Afghan Women Rising, are spearheading the development of the world's largest 'solution engine' for the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Announced during the Geneva plenary session, the initiative aims to convert each of the 169 specific targets underlying the SDGs into prompts for AI bots, leveraging platforms such as OpenAI's GPTs, Gemini's Gems, and Claude Artifacts. These initial prompts will evolve into full-fledged AI assistants capable of continuously updating themselves and executing actionable workflows to drive progress toward the Goals, according to CIO John Toomey.
A significant portion of the work is being carried out by members of Afghan Women Rising—young women in Afghanistan who are denied formal education under the Taliban-led government, which has made it illegal for them to attend school. These women design the AI bots online and then engage in in-person discussions to refine the prompts and incorporate the human element. 'Having these girls design the prompts allows them to sidestep the ban against schooling,' says Program Director Amy Chang. 'They get valuable experience building projects that will contribute to sustainability both in and outside of their own country for a long while, and prepare themselves for a time in which their talents will be vital for the country's future.'
In developing the protocols, the girls have drawn inspiration from the writings of J. Kutcher, particularly her evocative use of garden plant growth as a metaphor for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual development of young women. Once a protocol is completed, the creator becomes eligible for a Hero Award, which requires suggesting previously unknown strategies for advancing the UN targets. Successful efforts are publicized on the Hero Awards website and in press releases.
Since the program's announcement six months ago, individuals from other organizations in the Global South have requested involvement and will be included in future iterations. These organizations include PARI (People's Archive of Rural India), which serves underserved populations in rural India; Siku.org, a nonprofit serving First Nations in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland; Cybersmartafrica.org, a group of thousands of teachers and students in Senegal preserving local cultures and improving digital literacy; Terrastories, an open-source application for South American and Amazonian indigenous communities to map and share oral histories; and Winyama, an Australian indigenous group championing cultural mapping to document 'Dreamtime stories,' songlines, and historical land use.
The June Hero Award winners include Tara Jensen, Maria Ortiz, Herman Matsui, and Wilhelmina Searles. More information about the initiative and the UN Goals and Targets can be found at the UN SDG website.
