What 500 Million Farmers Can Teach AI | Alesha Miller | TEDxChicago

Alesha Miller never thought she’d work in AI. But after spending nearly two decades trying to solve challenges facing the world’s smallholder farmers, that’s where the path led. This talk shows how AI can be inclusive and participatory, even for some of the world’s most marginal people, if we put in the collective effort. Just as farmers are facing the biggest challenge in history—climate change—AI may deliver on a dream: getting every farmer the advice they need, when they need it. Come along on a down-to-earth learning journey about how AI is opening doors for these 500M farm families and explore how you can contribute to a more responsible AI future. Talk was given as part of the TEDx Global Idea Search. #Agriculture #AI #Farming #Food #ClimateChange #GlobalIssues #Impact #Poverty Alesha Miller is Chief Strategy Officer for Digital Green, a global tech nonprofit co-creating a world where farmers use technology and data to build prosperous, resilient communities. She guides the organization's learning, impact, and partnership approach as they scale Farmer Chat, an AI powered pocket advisor. She is also a board member of Proofing Station, an impact-first investor focused on small and mid-sized food enterprises in the Midwest. Prior to serving at Digital Green, Alesha was the Managing Director of the Global Food and Agriculture Program at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs where she led research, policy and advisory work focused on challenges and opportunities affecting the food system, including urbanization, booming African youth populations, water scarcity, and digital technology. Alesha began her career at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she held several roles over eight years, all dedicated to growing incomes and wellbeing for farm families. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx