What are Just AI Awards?
The Just AI Awards, launched in 2024, has been conceptualised by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), and institutionalised as an annual award system in partnership with the Emerging Technologies Wing of the Government of Telangana and the World Summit Awards (WSA). The Just AI Awards will be held as part of the Global AI Summit, hosted by the Government of Telangana, to be held on September 5 and 6, 2024.
The mandate of the Just AI Awards is to recognise three best practices in India that have leveraged the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in building projects, initiatives, and solutions at the grassroots level, which are aimed at breaking social and digital barriers, reducing the socio-economic inequalities, strengthening crisis response, and contributing to the democratic and feminist principles of the internet. Besides the stated scope of the Just AI Awards, special emphasis and recognition will be given to the AI-based solutions that prioritise ethical data collection through participatory development methods, promoting gender justice and inclusivity, decolonising the internet by encouraging linguistic diversity, and ensuring universal and affordable internet access. Amidst an unprecedented infusion of emerging and disruptive technologies, the Just AI Awards aims to recognise innovative projects, initiatives and solutions that approach technology as a social good, and address complex and critical questions surrounding it.
With an approach to AI for Social Good that is accessible, affordable, and accountable to all citizens, the Just AI Awards seeks to highlight and promote impactful models across various sectors of the economy and society that critically address the ethical issues in task automation, data privacy breaches, algorithmic biases and discrimination arising from the use of unmoderated and unregulated vast datasets. The Just AI Awards aims to recognise and celebrate the initiatives, achievements, and efforts of tech innovators with a citizen-centric approach.
Objectives
- Identify and recognise AI-based projects and initiatives in India that effectively address the social and digital divide.
- Highlight AI solutions that enhance responses to various crises, contributing to social resilience and community well-being.
- Support and celebrate projects that align with democratic values and feminist principles, ensuring that technology benefits all members of society equitably.
- Provide recognition to AI solutions that prioritise ethical data collection, participatory development methods, and address issues such as algorithmic biases and data privacy.
- Recognise and support efforts to make the internet universally accessible and affordable, particularly in underserved and rural regions in the country.
- Address ethical issues in AI, such as task automation, data privacy breaches, and biases arising from unmoderated vast datasets, promoting a responsible and accountable AI ecosystem.
- Advocate for AI as an accessible, affordable, and accountable digital social good that benefits all citizens and communities.
- Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of tech innovators, with a special focus on a citizen-centric approach.
Award Category and Eligibility
The nominations are open for AI-based solutions in India that address social and digital barriers, reduce socio-economic disparities, enhance crisis management, and uphold democratic and feminist principles of the internet. Under the AI for Social Good category, the Just AI Awards will recognise and highlight the importance of ethical data practices, participatory development, gender equality, inclusivity, linguistic diversity, and widespread, affordable internet access.
Any organisation or an individual is welcome to apply, who have worked towards building accessible, affordable, and accountable AI-based solutions addressing ethical challenges like task automation, data privacy issues, and algorithmic biases, emphasising technology’s role as a force for social good.
Guidelines for Submission
- The criteria for the selection of nominations for Just AI Awards is strictly restricted to AI for Social good, and its transformative potential in advancing and strengthening social impact.
- Submissions for the Just AI Awards can contain AI-based solutions built through Mobile Applications, Chatbots, SMS-based products, Web applications/pages, databases, kiosk installations, wearables, Internet of Things, etc.
- There is no limitation regarding the platforms or channels the projects work with.
- Projects, including pilot programs, demonstrations, and conceptual ideas, are accepted.
- Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Applicants may be contacted by the organising team for further information on the proposal.
Criteria for Evaluation and Selection
Innovation: Assessing the originality and creativity of the AI-based solution, focusing on how it introduces new concepts, methods, or technologies.
Performance: Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the solution in achieving its intended goals and objectives.
Ease of Use: Considering the user-friendliness and accessibility of the solution, ensuring it can be easily adopted by the target audience.
Functionality: Examining the practicality and reliability of the solution, including how well it performs its intended tasks.
Value: Determining the overall worth of the solution, including its cost-effectiveness and the benefits it provides to users and the community.
Impact: Measuring the positive effects and changes brought about by the solution, especially in terms of social impact.
