Panel details

Panel organiser(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online
Number of paper presentations	3
Location	Istanbul

Abstract

This panel invites papers on the uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the humanitarian sector. We have recently completed a project exploring these issues with a range of academics and practitioners (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/research/epidemiology-and-public-health/research/ucl-centre-humanitarianism-and-social-inclusion-7). Our evidence suggests that AI-based approaches can offer promising ways to improve decision-making and streamline operations, freeing up valuable time for humanitarian teams to focus on other key areas of work. However, the rush to adopt AI has also led to organisations implementing untested solutions without a clear, needs-based strategy, resulting in decisions that overlook essential concerns about data quality, ownership, bias, and transparency. This highlights a critical power imbalance, which risks creating AI tools that favour donor or technological interests over the actual needs of local communities. This panel invites contributions discussing these issues, particularly from the perspective of people directly affected by humanitarian crises, whose voices are often notably absent. We will also present one of the key outputs of the project, the development of a practice guide on ‘Designing and Deploying AI Tools to Support Humanitarian Practice’.

Paper presentations