These 5 startups are making the most of AI to solve social problems
Artificial Intelligence has changed the way industries function - from providing solutions in healthcare and social sectors to addressing farmers’ woes. An important tool, these 5 startups are disrupting diverse industries with their socially relevant ideas
In the past decade, artificial intelligence has scaled into every possible field. Former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka, who announced his startup Vianai Systems a few weeks ago, recently stated, “Over the next 20 to 25 years, AI is going to be ‘a very, very big disruptor’ for Indian society because what one is seeing now in terms of automation and job losses due to automation is just the beginning.”
In the past five years, artificial intelligence has taken a huge leap in providing complex solutions and data. Be it facial recognition on high-end phones, or healthcare where it aids doctors analyse complex medical data to diagnose patients.
Artificial Intelligence
AI’s profound tentacles have now reached social sectors too. Entrepreneurs with expertise in AI have come up with staggering solutions to address issues in agriculture, sanitation, clean drinking water, and other socially relevant issues.
Having said that, the number of startups in the field of AI-based solutions has also skyrocketed. According to a news report, a study by tech giant Accenture stated that AI has the potential to add $957 billion, or 15 percent of current gross value added, to India’s economy by 2035. Here are a few startups that are using AI for the betterment of mankind.
Blue Sky Analytics
Climate change is a cause of concern the world over. Over the years, with the growth in industries and extreme pollution across cities, global warming has led to a huge meltdown in polar caps.
However, startups like Blue Sky Analytics, a Gurugram-based spacetech startup, cofounded by Abhilasha Purwar and Kshitij Purwar, is providing high-resolution and high-frequency environmental data to global stakeholders using its in-house proprietary AI-enabled solutions.
Abhilasha Purwar along with her team of Blue Sky Analytics
Blue Sky Analytics is a geospatial data intelligence startup, leveraging satellite data with IoT to provide accessible, high resolution, high frequency and near real-time data. The startup is on a mission to combat the menace of air pollution and enable informed decision making.
Can you believe satellites orbiting 400 miles above the Earth's surface send data that can be used to monitor particles that are less than 1/10th the width of human hair
Blue Sky Analytics provides its users contextualised air quality information, real-time air quality data with next three-day predictions, long time series historical data (five years), comparing air quality of multiple stations, user engagement via gamification, news aggregator, etc.
Niramai
One out of every two women diagnosed with breast cancer in India succumbs to the Big C. Only 3 percent of women have regular breast health check-ups in the absence of a non-invasive method of examination.
To address this, NIRAMAI, or Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Intelligence, a Bengaluru-based deep tech startup, is providing solutions to treat breast cancers using AI. Founded by Geetha Manjunatha (CEO and CTO) and Nidhi Mathur (COO), the solution Thermalytix is a portable, non-invasive, radiation-free, and non-contact solution for early stage detection of breast cancer. It is safe, non-touch, radiation-free and low-cost.
The team at Niramai wanted to change the process of women going for a test only when they accidentally detect a lump.
It helps detect tumours that are five times smaller than what a clinical examination can detect. Besides, women of all ages can undergo screening without side-effects.
Intello Labs
In India, agriculture is one of the most important sectors fuelling the economy, and it accounts for 18 percent of India’s GDP. Further, it is responsible for employing almost 50 percent of the country’s workforce. Having said that, it’s important to address the issues faced by farmers in the sector. Startups like Intello Labs have turned their AI focus on addressing deep and grave agricultural issues.
Devendra Chandani, Nishant Mishra, Milan Sharma, and Himani Shah of the Intello Labs
Founded by Milan Sharma (CEO and cofounder) in 2016, the agritech startup is providing AI-based solutions like detecting an image, grading, analysing, and testing Agri commodities. Now, the Gurugram-based agritech startup provides services like testing and grading of wheat, corn, tomato, soybean, potato, and onions.
Speaking to YourStory earlier Milan revealed,
“Retailers look for good quality food, and we are working to digitise and objectify the quality of the produce.”
So how does the app function? The user can upload a sample of the commodity by clicking pictures of the commodity chosen. Once done, the picture taken goes to the cloud where an algorithm by Intello Labs works on it, and the results are sent to the user’s mobile with grades and other quality checkpoints
Marut Drones
Founded by Prem Kumar Vislawath, Founder of Marut Drones. MARUT Drones has built India's first drone to eradicate Mosquitoes and Hyacinths on Lakes. Also, the AI-enabled startup in T-Hub and mentored by RICH, IICT and IIIT Hyderabad. We have been selected to Facebook India Innovate Accelerator and received Nidhi Prayas Grant from IIIT Hyderabad.
MARUT drones, utilises drones to dispense repellent over lakes lost to infestation. Marut Drones is a first of its kind AI drone used to eradicate mosquitoes and water hyacinth, from lakes lost to infestation. Real time reports and predictive analytical are used to tackle mosquito eradication and water hyacinths a completely new level.Prioritize areas based on mosquito density and species. Report the time and location of actual intervention. Analytics to monitor effectiveness of interventions and Recommendations on the control methods based on mosquito densities.
Marut drones in action
The GHMC partnered with Hyderabad Drone technology company MARUT Drones, for a mosquito eradication solution.
Marut Drones has also come up with an AI-based mechanism that has achieved a 60% reduction in the mosquito population in the area where drones used. The initiative was a success with the residents around the area noticing a difference immediately.
Though bio enzymes too were sprayed using drones, to reduce the water hyacinth spread, the results were only 20% of the expectations. The mosquito larval density has come down from 41 per ladle (approximately 40 ml) of water to 28, while adult mosquitoes have dwindled to 16 from 26 in just two days.
Leverage Edu
Founded by Akshay Chaturvedi (CEO), Leverage Edu assists students with mentoring along with guiding college admissions to professionals and high schoolers. This Delhi-based startup uses AI to help students match the right programmes at the right colleges, and connects them to top experts.
Elaborating on the tech, Akshay had explained previously, “Once a parent sees how BYJU’s has helped a student with K-12 education, their confidence in an online platform will increase, and they would trust similar platforms. This is not a competition - two different players are solving the problems for today and tomorrow separately. We add value as you move forward in your career.”
Team Leverage Edu
Moreover, the platform claims that it brings together more than 1,200 mentors from universities like Stanford, Oxford, MIT, Yale, Harvard, etc., with work experience in companies like Goldman Sachs, Apple, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Amazon, Facebook, Tesla, etc.
The app has an AI tool that uses certain objective and subjective parameters to tell the user what programme or what career suits him or her best. If needed, it can also identify suitable mentors according to the users.
(Edited by Suruchi Kapur Gomes)
