Narrowing the data gap: World Bank and Microsoft commit to unlocking better development outcomes for persons with disabilities

Across the world, persons with disabilities remain invisible in the global development agenda. One key reason is because of variances in the availability and use of disability-disaggregated data across organizations and borders.   While it is estimated that one billion people, or 15 percent of the world’s population, have a disability – more data is needed…

Introducing Viva Sales, a modern way of selling that brings together any CRM, Microsoft 365 and Teams

Today we’re introducing Viva Sales, a new seller experience application that brings together any customer relationship management technology (CRM), Microsoft 365 and Teams to provide a more streamlined and AI-powered selling experience. The past two years have changed the way we work. Employees are demanding more from their employers in today’s hybrid world – from…

Expanding access to clean energy careers

Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. Our fossil-based energy system has disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities for generations. So as the world transitions to a carbon-free electric grid, it’s important to support programs building a just and equitable clean energy economy. This transition to clean energy is expected to create 10.3…

Go on an epic adventure with Netflix’s “The Sea Beast”

Craving a different type of drive this summer? Go on a high-seas adventure without stepping off land. Activate Waze’s latest driving experience, inspired by Netflix’s newest movie,“The Sea Beast.” (Check out the trailer and the film on Netflix July 8.) Starting today, you’ll meet the dynamic duo of Maisie, a precocious stowaway, and Blue, a…

Reducing gender-based harms in AI with Sunipa Dev

Natural language processing (NLP) is a form of artificial intelligence that teaches computer programs how to take in, interpret, and produce language from large data sets. For example, grammar checkers use NLP to come up with grammar suggestions that help people write grammatically correct phrases. But as Google’s AI Principles note, it’s sometimes necessary to…

Mentorship and support for Black and women founders

Women-led startups received just 2.3% of venture capital funding in 2020. The venture capital industry remains male-dominated, both among decision-makers and the entrepreneurs who are successful in their pitches for investment. For Black founders, the gap is even wider, with only 1.2% of VC funding in the U.S. going to Black-led startups in 2021. Mentorship…