A.I. Took a Test to Detect Lung Cancer. It Got an A.

An app that uses A.I. to scans lung X-rays is helping two hospitals in rural and remote parts of India to identify cases of tuberculosis that they otherwise would have been likely to misdiagnose. Medical professionals caution that the app is not a replacement for a clinician's diagnosis but say when used in conjunction with a clinical assessment, the interpretation of a chest X-ray is likely to be more accurate.

The Holberton School, a San Francisco "start-up" university with a two-year curriculum, aims to provide an affordable and estimable computer science education while removing barriers to knowledge -- age, gender, ethnicity, past professional life -- typically confronted by minority and low-income students across the nation. By "teaching the population frozen out of the internet age" Holberton demonstrates how altered admissions processes and low-cost tuition plans imbue the tech sector's workforce with a more diverse array of qualified candidates.

Hola Code Academy, a non-profit based in Mexico City, is building "Mexico's Silicon Valley." Targeting English-speaking students who have recently been deported from the United States, the startup offers free, intensive programming classes and has attracted the attention of recruiters at U.S. software companies with offices in Mexico. "Now, they are getting a second shot at the American dream - in Mexico," WSJ's David Luhnow writes.

School districts can help students qualify for high-tech careers, regardless of their zip code, through investments in networking and mentoring. Coded by Kids was founded in Philadelphia in 2014 to teach underprivileged students computer skills, such as programming and design. Within five years, Coded by Kids has expanded into New Jersey and Delaware, reaching hundreds of kids. The organization has also launched a student-led design firm, Draft Studios.

At a Boston high school, a targeted approach to attract a diverse student body to computer science courses is showing signs of success. By implementing a "computer science-heavy curriculum," and applying the technology to the student's own interests, the diversity of the school is now reflected in the diversity of those enrolled in the courses.

P.ink, or Personal Ink, is a non-profit that curates a Pinterest page where women considering mastectomy tattoos can browse designs, find bios of vetted tattoo artists, and get help connecting with local artists. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the group hosts a mastectomy tattooing event called P.ink Day, where they also raise money to help survivors around the country pay for mastectomy tattoos. Using their mobile app, women can “try on” tattoos by overlaying the image onto a photograph or ordering a temporary tattoo of the image. For some women, covering scars with artwork helps emotional healing.

The Children Living With Cancer Foundation organizes dance parties for children with cancer, to provide them with a sense of joy, encouragement, and community during times of need. The nonprofit also organizes community events and donations and works with local pharmacies to get patients the medicines they need at subsidized rates. So far, the Foundation has supported 300 childhood cancer patients and their families.

Protected species of animals and plants are illegally sold online mainly due to buyers and sellers having no knowledge of laws or the consequences to the ecosystem. Enforcement Gaps Interface (EGI) is a software which uses machine learning to determine if the animal product is illegal or not.

Thorn’s Spotlight tool uses text and facial recognition technology to scrub the web, helping investigators find underage sex-trafficking victims. Spotlight has been used by law enforcement on nearly 40,000 cases in North America, helping investigators find more than 9,000 children and 10,000 traffickers.

Homeschools and microschools are embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to help students explore advanced topics, tailor learning to the student, and make organizing a curriculum easier.