The Hero Awards has unveiled a new methodology that enables individuals to create actionable plans for implementing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals using a sequence of leading artificial intelligence systems. The organization, which has recognized progress toward the 17 SDGs since 2019, developed the protocol to make meaningful impact more accessible and predictable for everyday participants.
Education Director Amy Chang explained that the workflow takes approximately two to three hours to complete and produces multiple outputs including a GPT listed on OpenAI's GPT store, an Innovation Engine built with Google's NotebookLM, and starting in 2026, a collaboration tool based in Microsoft Loop. These components work together to create what the organization calls "169 robust solution-evolvers" that continue generating new approaches to sustainability challenges over time.
The protocol operates by moving a single SDG target through seven different AI systems in a specific sequence that has demonstrated the highest performance. According to the organization's documentation, the current optimal progression begins with Meta.ai, then moves through Claude Code, Copilot.microsoft.com, Gemini.google.com v.3, Perplexity.ai, Deepseek.com, and concludes with ChatGPT (v.5.2). Each system builds upon and refines the previous model's output, adding specificity, clarity, and verification steps to create increasingly practical solutions.
Sustainability Director Savithri Patel emphasized that the methodology addresses a significant gap in recognition for sustained work on planetary challenges. "We created a process that blends human judgment with AI—moving ideas across multiple models to make them more grounded, more practical, and less vulnerable to hallucinations," Patel stated. The organization views this approach as helping participants "Be the Singularity," representing the moment when AI begins to outperform human intelligence in specific domains.
Completed solutions receive multiple forms of recognition and archival. All proposals are preserved on The Hero Awards' Academia.edu page, creating a public repository where others can review, reuse, and improve upon the work. Winners gain visibility across the organization's digital channels and receive the unique ability to confer the same honor upon others who complete the protocol, creating a potential network effect.
The initiative has demonstrated measurable impact beyond the immediate deliverables. According to data from a 2022 preliminary project, for every 100 completed procedures, 29 participants produced content that gained traditional media traction, 14 were quoted in academic or professional journals, 7 launched NGOs or non-profits connected to their chosen target, and 5 founded startups. The organization noted that Substack creators represented the largest source of new participants in 2025, suggesting the methodology resonates with content creators seeking tangible impact.
Chang framed the initiative as democratizing planetary stewardship and human flourishing. "It's work—but it's enjoyable work using familiar AI tools—and it helps people develop a global mindset that makes change feel both achievable and personally meaningful," she explained. The organization maintains several platforms for engagement including theheroaward.substack.com and theheroaward.net.
For business and technology leaders, this development represents a significant shift in how sustainability initiatives can be approached at scale. By systematizing the translation of UN targets into actionable plans through accessible AI tools, the protocol potentially lowers barriers to meaningful participation in global challenges. The methodology's emphasis on cross-platform AI integration and measurable outcomes suggests a new model for leveraging technology to address complex systemic problems while developing human capabilities alongside artificial intelligence systems.
