Dive Brief:

• Monday, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, showed an example of the artificial intelligence-enhanced maps the company used to create “extremely accurate” population maps.
• AI technology the company built analyzed 15.6 billion satellite images to map populations across 21.6 million square kilometers of earth. 
• Facebook will use the data to direct the company’s solar-powered plane, enabling it to efficiently beam Internet down to people. 

Dive Insight:

Last month, reports surfaced of Facebook's artificial intelligence-based maps, which showed where people live and how their location affects their ability to connect to the Internet. 

But in a post yesterday, Zuckerberg showed how those AI maps compare to current state of the art population maps. With advancements in artificial intelligence, organizations and researchers can analyze vast amounts of data in a much more efficient manner, creating more accurate result. 

Zuckerberg has made it a personal mission to connect more of the world’s population through his Internet.org initiative and other efforts. Zuckerberg said he believes that Internet connectivity is a "vital enabler of jobs, growth, and opportunity."

"Many people live in remote communities and accurate data on where people live doesn't always exist," Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. "We can't beam Internet connectivity to people if we don't know where communities are."

Facebook plans share the maps they create openly with the community so other organizations can use them too. "This should help with planning energy, health and transport infrastructure, as well as assisting people who need help in disasters," Zuckerberg said.