Gates Foundation Commits $1 Billion to Expand AI Access

Sep 17, 2026
The Gates Foundation will spend at least $1 billion over two years on AI tools and access across education, health care, agriculture, and digital infrastructure.

Gates Foundation will spend at least $1 billion over the next two years to expand access to AI tools, the organization said in a press release. The commitment accompanies its 2026 Goalkeepers Report, which focuses on access to AI across different languages and communities.

About 40% of the funding will support education, including AI tutoring and tools for teachers. Another 40% will support health care applications such as diagnostics, clinical decision support, maternal and newborn care, and research into drugs and vaccines.

The foundation will direct 10% toward AI generated agricultural advice based on local soil, weather, and crop conditions. The remaining 10% will support digital infrastructure, including datasets for languages that current AI systems do not adequately cover.

We hope you enjoyed this article

Free newsletter

AI Policy Brief

Weekly report on AI regulations, safety standards, government policies, and compliance requirements worldwide.

AI Token Webinar

Industry analysis

2025 Global Business Services Agenda: Gen AI Takes Center Stage

The Hackett Group

This industry analysis by The Hackett Group explores the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) on global business services (GBS) in 2025. The study highlights the shift from exploration to acceleration of Gen AI initiatives, with 89% of executives advancing these projects to improve customer satisfaction, innovate products, and reduce costs. The report also discusses the challenges and strategies for successful Gen AI adoption, emphasizing the need for a technology-enabled operating model and the importance of reskilling the workforce.

Read more

You may also like

Free, six days a week

Daily AI Brief: the AI news that matters, in your inbox.