Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As detection tools improve, so do the techniques used to generate reviews designed specifically to slip past them, creating an ongoing arms race. Staying consistently ahead of these evasion tactics remains technically unresolved.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
reviews
specifically
detection
don
have
scalable
way
detect
ai-generated
fake
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A small number of companies control the primary channels through which most people discover and install mobile apps, giving them significant power over which businesses can reach customers at all. Balancing platform control with fair competition remains an unresolved policy issue.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
control
over
apps
haven
found
way
prevent
large
tech
platforms
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Automated captioning has improved significantly but still performs unevenly across different accents, dialects, and less common languages, leaving some users with far less accurate accessibility support than others. Closing this accuracy gap remains incomplete.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
captioning
accurate
accents
languages
yet
build
universally
accessible
transcription
tools
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many connected devices become permanently vulnerable once their manufacturer stops issuing security updates, yet the devices often remain in active use for years afterward. A sustainable way to keep abandoned devices secure remains unresolved.
local-regional
global-unspecified
devices
updates
once
haven
solved
make
firmware
older
iot
continue
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Recommendation systems tend to show users more of what they already agree with because that content performs better for engagement, gradually narrowing exposure to differing viewpoints. Correcting for this without reducing relevance remains an unresolved design challenge.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
content
recommendation
build
engines
fully
avoid
reinforcing
filter
bubbles
around
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
haven
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mistakes in AI-assisted translation can have serious consequences in legal or medical contexts, yet independent verification of accuracy in these high-stakes settings remains inconsistent. Building reliable safeguards for critical-use translation remains an unresolved challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
translation
have
legal
medical
settings
don
scalable
way
verify
ai-powered
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Data brokers can aggregate information from many different sources to build surprisingly detailed profiles on individuals, often without those individuals ever being aware or having consented. Meaningful regulation and technical limits on this practice remain inconsistent globally.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
detailed
profiles
haven
found
way
prevent
large-scale
broker
networks
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Malicious browser extensions can steal data or hijack sessions while appearing legitimate in official extension stores, and current vetting processes don't catch every harmful case before it reaches users. Strengthening this screening process remains an ongoing security challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
malicious
browser
extensions
yet
build
affordable
reliable
technology
detect
remove
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
AI can help generate convincing fake diplomas, transcripts, or certification documents, and verification systems haven't fully caught up with detecting these increasingly sophisticated forgeries. Closing this verification gap remains an unresolved challenge for employers and institutions.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
fake
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
ai-generated
academic
credentials
being
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Counterfeit electronics, from chargers to batteries, sometimes skip proper safety certification entirely, creating fire and shock risks for unsuspecting consumers. Detecting and stopping these products at scale remains an unresolved supply chain challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
supply-chain
counterfeit
electronics
safety
haven
solved
prevent
consumer
bypassing
testing
reaching
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Attackers can sometimes broadcast false GPS signals that mislead navigation systems on ships, aircraft, or vehicles, creating serious safety risks. Reliable, widely deployed defenses against this kind of spoofing remain incomplete.
society-governance
global-unspecified
gps
spoofing
mislead
navigation
systems
ships
aircraft
build
technology
fully
technology-computing
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Location-based data used by AI models can sometimes act as a proxy for race or income, indirectly leading to unfair lending or insurance decisions even without explicit discriminatory intent. Fully removing this hidden bias remains an unresolved technical and regulatory challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
don
models
insurance
lending
have
scalable
way
ensure
unfairly
penalize
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
agreed
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
AI can generate large volumes of convincing, varied text quickly, making it easier for bad actors to run coordinated disinformation campaigns that are harder to detect than repetitive, obviously automated posts. Staying ahead of this evolving tactic remains an unresolved challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
coordinated
disinformation
campaigns
haven
found
way
prevent
chatbots
being
weaponized
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Robocalls and spam calls continue to reach users despite various blocking technologies, partly because scammers can spoof caller information and operate across international boundaries where enforcement is inconsistent. A fully effective, universal solution remains unbuilt.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
spam
blocking
yet
build
universally
reliable
call
works
all
telecom
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
AI tools can generate large volumes of content that closely mimics existing creative works without directly copying them word for word, making plagiarism harder to detect through traditional methods. Protecting original creators from this kind of derivative flooding remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
tools
derivative
creative
content
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
writing
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As cities adopt more connected infrastructure for traffic lights, utilities, and public services, the potential attack surface for disruptive cyberattacks grows correspondingly. Comprehensive security for these interconnected systems remains inconsistently implemented.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
infrastructure
traffic
systems
haven
solved
prevent
hackers
exploiting
vulnerabilities
smart
society-governance
public
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Automated systems can now generate huge numbers of low-quality websites designed purely to capture search traffic and advertising revenue, faster than search engines can identify and demote them. This is actively degrading the overall quality of web search.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
search
websites
build
technology
fast
enough
keep
sheer
volume
ai-generated
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
technology-computing
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Accessibility efforts often focus more on physical and sensory disabilities than on cognitive accessibility, leaving many users with learning or cognitive differences underserved by mainstream digital design. Closing this specific accessibility gap remains an underaddressed challenge.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
cognitive
users
disabilities
physical
sensory
accessibility
don
have
widely
adopted
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Advanced surveillance technology developed for legitimate security purposes can end up being sold to and misused by governments to suppress dissent. Preventing this kind of misuse through export controls or corporate accountability remains inconsistently enforced.
society-governance
global-unspecified
surveillance
being
sold
governments
misuse
haven
found
way
prevent
ai-powered
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Implanted medical devices like pacemakers increasingly connect wirelessly for monitoring, but security protections for these devices haven't kept pace with the sensitivity of what's at stake if they're compromised. Closing this gap remains an urgent but underaddressed challenge.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
cybersecurity
devices
protections
medical
implanted
yet
build
robust
affordable
specifically
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
health-biology
