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Tech For Good: It’s More Than Just Fancy Jargon

First published in Forbes.Com.

Many trending topics in tech can be considered buzzwords. Remember the metaverse or NFTs? Think hard. They were buzzwords about a year ago. But they are no longer taking over the airwaves. The current fad is generative AI, courtesy of ChatGPT and its instant popularity.

Yes, we are all focused on creating new policies and use cases for AI. Major companies are adding AI to their campaigns or products. An example of this is Microsoft AI, which involves a partnership with OpenAI and a $13 billion investment. And, let’s not forget the recent drama with Sam Altman, who ended up joining Microsoft and then returned to Open AI as CEO within a few days. It did help elevate conversions around the future of AI.

These emerging solutions and advancements can be useful tools, but do they make tech sustainable and purposeful in the long run?

Purpose Over Buzzwords

For a company to be successful, it needs to do more than add a buzzword to a product name or campaign. What happens when AI disappears into the background, followed by another tech fad?

Rather than getting caught up in buzzwords like AI, blockchain or the Internet of Things (IoT), let’s emphasize how such tech platforms have made a difference. Yes, we live in a connected world, and these technologies could be the solution for tomorrow. A fancy term alone won’t make a product or company successful; it’s the tangible benefits each delivers that matter most.

I believe that it is critical for a company’s success to demonstrate how a product is making a positive impact on society. For example, the use of AI via real-time data is helping environmentalists monitor air quality in areas of high pollution concentrations to ensure filtration systems are operating adequately.

Empower Innovation

I have the privilege of working with startups and accelerators and am constantly impressed with the amazing ideas they come up with to help people, especially when it comes to the use of robotics in the medical and surgical fields. In fact, the global medical robotics market is expected to reach $12.7 billion by 2025, and the global surgical robotics market is projected to reach $22.27 billion by 2028.

Recently, I spoke with the founder of Marsi Bionics, a company that has developed a first-of-its-kind pediatric exoskeleton for children who are unable to walk on their own. Another company, Tatum Robotics, engineered a robot that uses sign language to communicate with deaf people.

In the area of preventive health diagnostics, tech like AI is being used more to analyze medical images, detect diseases in earlier stages and predict patient outcomes with more accuracy. This all leads to improving a patient’s overall well-being and the ability to give them the tools they need to make changes so that he or she has a better outcome of a healthy life.

It is encouraging to see companies who are drawing from their technological resources to make a positive impact on humanity. We as a society should be encouraging and empowering startups and small companies to pursue tech for good.

Safer Space

Hazards to Earth, such as asteroids, comets and derelict satellites, have long been a concern. Before the use of advanced technology, these were considered hidden and unpredictable dangers. These hazards were largely an unknown potential for catastrophic events. Today, in the area of planetary defense as an example, technology is changing the game.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is responsible for the nation’s monitoring, analyzing and responding to the threats and challenges of near-Earth objects. For example, highly advanced technologies are used, in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to collect samples of asteroids from space to gain a greater understanding of their potential for harm to the planet. They also use technology to produce simulations of possible collisions from hazardous objects to better prepare to intercept and warn society.

Last year, NASA used a specially crafted spaceship to perform what they have titled the Double Asteroid Redirection Test(DART) to deflect an asteroid’s path in space. The mission was made possible only through the proactive use of technology, such as machine learning for image detection and AI for monitoring the spacecraft’s health and operation. It was an enormous feat that could have a major impact on the American public in the event of a real threat.

Sustainability Matters

How about we prioritize building and leveraging tech that contributes to a sustainable future? Let’s focus more on smart agriculture for developing healthier food, solar panels for heating and cooling buildings, alternative energy and eco-friendly sources for transportation. All of these and similar solutions will have a tremendous positive impact on the planet and people, globally.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States has had more climate-related billion-dollar disasters—23 so far—than ever before in recorded history. Those disasters involved wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and record heat throughout every corner of the nation. These weather-related events are warning signs that climate change deserves our attention.

Yes, we have the resources and technology to make an impact on climate-related problems. We have the ability to innovate and reach the country’s goal of net-zero emissions by the year 2050. For example, by decarbonizing major sectors such as transportation, manufacturing and buildings, we can make a major impact on humanity and the planet.

Remember, a fancy term alone won’t make a product or company successful. Tomorrow will bring new buzzwords and trends, but our commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of society should remain constant. Let’s make a difference with tech that truly matters, leaving a legacy of progress and positivity for generations to come.

Parna Sarkar-Basu is the founder of B&B Consulting and writes about entrepreneurship, business transformation, innovation & tech for good. Read Parna’s full executive profile here.