Noble Intelligence

QuantumBlack

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the defining forces shaping our collective future. At McKinsey, we believe AI can be a powerful instrument for social good when designed and deployed responsibly. Noble Intelligence, an initiative by McKinsey & Company, mobilizes AI, analytics, and deep domain expertise to create or identify proven innovations and systematically scale them as digital public goods. Working with nongovernmental organizations, respected think tanks, and industry leaders, Noble Intelligence translates cutting-edge technology into practical solutions that deliver measurable impact at scale, advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Together with UN DISHA (Data Insights for Social and Humanitarian Action), Noble Intelligence enables faster and more effective disaster response by using the AI-driven damage assessment and socio-economic mapping solutions. These capabilities support humanitarian organizations across multiple disasters and help accelerate decision making in high-need contexts. In education and workforce readiness, Noble Intelligence partners with Junior Achievement to deliver Pitch Master, a generative AI-powered communications coach, designed to strengthen students’ oracy and entrepreneurial skills. The solution has been piloted across multiple geographies, with a clear pathway to global scale.

Across these initiatives, Noble Intelligence demonstrates how AI, when used ethically, responsibly, and in close partnership with mission-driven organizations, can help improve outcomes for communities at scale worldwide.

Impact Story

Harnessing the power of AI to improve aftercare services for survivors of human trafficking

By applying analytics and AI algorithms to a database of anonymized survivor support journeys, we helped an anti-slavery organization understand how it could improve the likelihood of recovery for survivors.

Examples of our work

Noble Intelligence has extensive experience in helping organizations across sectors to develop and deploy unique algorithms and source codes for the benefit of society.

Identifying people at risk of long-term unemployment

Roughly half of one European nation's unemployed population in 2018 were jobless for 12 consecutive months or more. In collaboration with a training organization for data scientists, we advised and helped an agency develop a predictive model to assess people’s risk of long-term unemployment. With initial tools currently in implementation, discussions about wider use are underway to help officials match workers with job opportunities.

Improving disaster relief

We are working with an international aid organization to assess damage to schools from a devastating cyclone in Africa that displaced more than 160,000 people. Using satellite data, we developed a deep-learning image recognition and classification algorithm to assess building damage post-disaster. Using AI models on damage data, teams on the ground can optimize the distribution of temporary schools and rebuilding efforts to get more children back to school faster.

Helping to reduce outbreaks from vaccine-preventable diseases

When measles vaccination rates dropped precipitously among children, we collaborated with a training organization for data scientists to build a model that predicts a child’s risk of not receiving the vaccine. The AI-assisted solution allows doctors to identify children most at risk, allowing better follow-up and dialogue between physicians and parents.

Helping survivors of human trafficking

We helped an anti-slavery organization reshape how it provides services to women, men, and children rescued from modern-day slavery. By applying analytics and AI to a database of anonymized survivor support journeys, we developed multiple algorithms to help the organization improve post-rescue services and support. The analysis found that assistance in the first 30 days could improve a survivor’s chance of recovery by more than 50 percent. These algorithms were developed in the United States and will be deployed globally.

Featured capability

Deep-learning based damage assessment model

Assessing damage to buildings in the wake of a natural disaster is a key component of humanitarian relief. Until now, this has been done by physically scouting buildings, which can take weeks to months—creating a major bottleneck in relief efforts.

Noble Intelligence has developed a computer-vision algorithm that assesses damage to buildings using pre-and post-disaster satellite imagery. The algorithm classifies each building into one of four categories (from “no damage” to “destroyed”) within minutes of receiving the relevant satellite data, with no human input. This quick analysis can help relief workers and organizations deploy emergency aid and allocate scarce resources more quickly.