Thanksgiving Turkey at AWS re:Invent

4:03

Dr. Ryan Ries here, coming at you with some optimism about AI.

Thanksgiving is next week, and I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

But since this is an AI-focused newsletter, this week, I want to highlight a few news stories from 2024 that make me thankful for AI advancements.

Here's a quick sidebar before I jump in.

I’m taking next week off from the Matrix due to the holiday. Then (if you can believe it’s already that time) it’s AWS re:Invent!

You can expect a special Matrix coming out on Monday that week before all the re:Invent craziness commences.

Alright, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

So, let’s look at a few AI use cases from this year that are improving our world.

Healthcare Breakthroughs

Harvard Medical School's CHIEF system represents a major leap forward in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

This ChatGPT-like AI achieves 94% accuracy in detecting cancer across 19 different types, predicts patient outcomes, and even identifies previously unknown tumor characteristics linked to survival.

That’s HUGE.

And most importantly, it could make advanced cancer diagnostics more accessible worldwide.

Fighting Climate Change

We hear a lot of negative things about AI and climate change.

And yes, AI does have a severe negative impact on our environment. That’s very true.

But AI is also becoming a powerful ally in our battle against climate change.

From tracking melting icebergs 10,000 times faster than humans to mapping deforestation from space, AI tools give us unprecedented insights into environmental climate changes.

In Brazil, AI-powered drones are even helping with reforestation efforts, dispersing seeds 100 times faster than traditional methods.

I would be very curious to see a study measuring AI's negative impact on our environment against the positive side of what society gains with AI.

P.S. If you’re really interested in AI and climate change, this article actually has 9 ways we’re using AI to battle climate change. It’s a great read.

Mental Health Access

I know I’ve covered this a little bit in previous Mission Matrix editions but it’s certainly a good news use case that deserves additional attention.

As we know, mental healthcare has historically been expensive and hard to access. Oftentimes insurance doesn’t even cover the basics of what people need.

This year, AI-powered platforms have helped bridge that gap, providing support between therapy sessions and reaching underserved areas.

While these tools can’t replace human mental health practitioners, they’re making mental health support more accessible and affordable for millions.

Protecting the Vulnerable

Here’s one that made me laugh out loud.

As someone who has heard from coworkers about their loved ones being scammed by these jerks, this made me really happy to read!

An AI named “Daisy,” created by Virgin Media O2, is turning the tables on phone scammers.

This AI grandmother engages scammers in endless conversations about knitting and her fictional cat “Fluffy,” keeping them occupied and away from real potential victims.

With seniors losing billions to fraud annually, I love seeing AI used to protect vulnerable populations.

2024 → 2025

AI can have a huge positive impact when it’s used and developed responsibly and ethically.

2024 has been a huge year for AI, so I’m excited to see what other positive use cases will come out in 2025.

Have you seen any other news stories this year that you’d add to this collection? Let me know.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Ryan Ries

Now, time for this week's AI-generated image and the prompt I used to create it.

DALLE2~1 "Generate an image of a Thanksgiving turkey in Las Vegas with an AWS re:Invent t-shirt on. The turkey is standing in a bustling sands expo hall."