Sydney, June 13, 2024 – HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) today unveiled a new study with Oxford Economics revealing enthusiasm among global leaders to use technology including AI to advance key impact goals. The study of business executives and government officials in 10 countries found 3 out of 4 leaders believe technology is key to expanding economic opportunity (76%) and that AI will help drive progress towards sustainability and social impact goals (76%).
Further, business leaders are either already using AI or plan to in the next 1-2 years for goals such as increasing access to digital education (90%), workforce development (89%), and workforce diversity (86%).
"Seeing the transformative power of AI firsthand is both humbling and inspiring, said Brad Pulford, HP Managing Director, ANZ. "Witnessing how it empowers individuals, whether it's local farmers in Kenya building resilient businesses or first-time tech users re-entering the workforce, reinforces the profound impact technology can have on people's lives. It's not just about innovation; it's about creating a future where technology is deeply personal and human-centered.
Accelerating digital equity for 150 million people by 2030
About one-third of the global population remains offline, costing the world billions of dollars in lost GDP each year. The digital divide has been growing since the advent of technology, and AI could exacerbate these disparities if intentional action isn't taken.
"Empowering individuals with access to essential digital tools isn't just a mission; it's a fundamental right in today's digital age. Technology holds the key to unlocking potential and driving societal progress. However, bridging the digital divide requires more than just access; it means equipping people with the skills to harness the full power of these tools", said Brad.
In its latest Sustainable Impact report released today, HP announced it has accelerated digital equity for more than 45 million people since 2021, bringing the organization nearly a third of the way to its goal of reaching 150 million people by 2030. The rapid progress is a result of innovative partnerships with key organizations that create tailored solutions for communities. HP pursues impactful programs, strategic investments and partnerships that prioritize those mostly likely to experience the digital divide.
• HP Australia is proud to power Royal Far West's telehealth assessment, diagnosis, and therapy services, which has helped them support 21,000+ people across 364 country communities in 2023. • By 2030, HP also aims to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people and contribute 3.5 million employee volunteering hours (cumulative since 2016). • HP supports WWF-Australia and the Bellingen Nature Company to deploy thermal drones and wildlife monitoring cameras to record, monitor and share the wildlife wonders within the forests of NSW. Records will help inform the design of the new Great Koala National Park to provide maximum protection of high conservation value forest and threatened species.
Building skills amid the rise of AI
Both business and government officials report lack of skills as a top barrier to meeting key organizational goals, only economic volatility ranked higher.
Skills-building is a core piece of HP's digital equity approach. As a result, HP is expanding its goal to enroll 2.75 million users in the free skills-building program HP LIFE. The program from the HP Foundation has already enrolled and enabled more than 1.2 million users to access economic opportunities or start businesses. HP is undertaking new initiatives to expand responsible access and use of AI, the top reported investment area of businesses today:
• Expand our free HP LIFE Digital Business Skills courses by releasing a new course on AI skills later this year. • Kick-off the HP AI in Social Impact Award, in collaboration with MIT Solve, which provides technology designed for building and running AI applications to social entrepreneurs and organizations that use AI to advance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in communities globally. • Debut commercial and consumer Next-Gen AI PCs to market this month, a new category of devices crafted for work and creation.
HP aspires to be the most sustainable and just technology company. HP is committed to continually examining its progress and evaluating further actions to achieve a more equitable and sustainable future.
