Microsoft has announced the launch of an AI for Health programme, dedicating US$40 million over five years to 'empower researchers and organisations with artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the health of people and communities around the world'. The programme will focus on three key areas: accelerating medical research to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases; increasing understanding of mortality and longevity to protect against global health crisis; and reducing health inequity and improving access to care for underserved populations. Part of the company's AI for Good programme, AI for Health is a philanthropic initiative which will support specific nonprofits and academic collaboration with Microsoft's leading data scientists, access to AI tools and cloud computing, and select cash grants.