Humanitarian groups embrace AI to boost global impact

The deployment of artificial intelligence in humanitarian work is gaining momentum as organizations seek innovative solutions to address record-breaking global crises affecting hundreds of millions of people.

Current humanitarian landscape: The world faces unprecedented challenges with 120 million people displaced by violence and disaster, while 300 million people require humanitarian assistance.

• The number of displaced persons has doubled in the past decade
• Progress on UN Sustainable Development Goals is declining or stagnant in most fragile countries
• Children born in fragile states face ten times greater risk of poverty compared to those in stable countries

AI applications in humanitarian work: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and its research lab, Airbel, are implementing AI solutions across three critical domains: information dissemination, education, and climate response.

• The Signpost project, supported by Google.org, Cisco Foundation, Zendesk, and Tech for Refugees, uses digital channels to provide crucial information to displaced populations
• An AI prototyping lab is being developed to evaluate Generative AI’s effectiveness in humanitarian operations
• These initiatives aim to counter misinformation and protect vulnerable populations during migration

Educational innovations: AI-powered solutions are being developed to address the educational needs of 224 million crisis-affected children worldwide.

• Lelapa AI is working to develop African language capabilities for AI models
• OpenAI is providing reduced-cost access to ChatGPT for nonprofits
• AprendAI, a new AI-driven educational chatbot platform, delivers personalized learning experiences in local languages

Climate resilience initiatives: AI technologies are being deployed to protect communities from extreme weather events.

• Google’s AI-powered Flood Hub provides flooding forecasts across 80 countries
• A partnership between Google.org, IRC, and GiveDirectly uses machine learning to establish early warning systems in Northeast Nigeria
• The system triggers automated cash transfers to help communities prepare for climate hazards

Future implications: As AI technology continues to evolve, its successful implementation in humanitarian work could mark a turning point in addressing global crises, though careful consideration must be given to ensuring these benefits reach those most in need while mitigating potential risks.