Noble Intelligence
Harnessing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to address social and humanitarian crises
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as one of the forces creating Change that Matters and opening new opportunities to shape our collective future. We see it as a potent instrument for social good. Drawing on our thinking and research in AI and analytics, Noble Intelligence, an initiative by McKinsey & Company, is engaging nongovernmental organizations, respected think tanks, and industry leaders as part of a global movement to responsibly use technology to benefit society and the environment.
Our diverse and passionate, cross-functional Noble Intelligence teams are using AI and analytics to develop and deploy innovative tools around the world to help organizations and communities achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Organizations that help victims of natural disasters, diseases, and other humanitarian crises can use AI and analytics to act more quickly, nimbly, and effectively to save lives and rebuild communities around the world. From expanding access to education and easing unemployment to assisting survivors of human trafficking, AI and other 21st-century technologies—used knowledgeably and responsibly—can maximize the impact of humanitarian work.
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.