Reaping the power of AI to help poor farmers and rural communities

San Francisco

AS debate swirls on whether artificial intelligence will be a boon or a curse for humanity, two Indian-American entrepreneur brothers are out to ensure that the emerging technologies don't just benefit the richest in society.

Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani have just launched what is billed as the world's first nonprofit institute dedicated to putting AI to work improving the lives of poor farmers, rural healthcare workers or teachers in communities with scant resources.

"AI will go where AI will go; it is difficult to predict where," Sunil Wadhwani said of the conflicting views on the emergence of computers more brilliant than th…