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Recent research found surprisingly little change in foreign assistance processes over the last 25 years, regardless of the Administration or its political affiliation. That history is poised to change. This was the basis for our Technology Salon that Envisioned USAID under Trump 2.0. The incoming Trump administration, Republican leadership of the Presidency, House, Senate, and…
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Our November 14th Tech Salon asked whether it’s safe to use AI to conduct research on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Children (VAC). Tesmer Atsbeha, Senior Program Officer, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund; and Diane Chang, Safety Product Manager, Cohere were our lead discussants, and we also heard from a lively group of participants from…
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The governance of artificial intelligence—covering its design, deployment, and use—is rapidly emerging as one of the most critical social and political issues of our time. Our political landscape is marked by a polycrisis of rising violence, threats to democracy, escalating inequality, and climate collapse. Profit-driven AI solutions often worsen these issues, forcing communities to confront…
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Our discussion of How to Assess Artificial Intelligence Impacts in International Development? at the recent Technology Salon DC had its very premise questioned at the start. We should not be asking how we can assess AI when international development organizations decide to adopt the new technology. We must start assessing AI now. Why? Because we…
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Development and humanitarian agencies are in a strategic position to broker relationships around artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. They often have access to desirable data about un- or underrepresented communities, and they can facilitate the entry of tech and data companies into frontier markets. Without careful scrutiny and purposeful partnering, however, social sector organizations can serve…
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All the hype around artificial intelligence – including generative AI – really starts with “old school” machine learning. The grandest large language models are basically algorithms looking at reams of data. That means training data is key for any GenAI activity, and an AI activity. The most accomplished GenAI tools are software agents that return…
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Our March 11 Technology Salon in New York City welcomed managers and directors from some 25 organizations for a discussion (therapy session?!) on how to manage the pain points of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption at development, humanitarian, and other non-profit organizations. Kick-starting the discussion were Friederike Schüür, UNICEF’s Chief of Data Strategy and Data Governance;…
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The release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and similar chatbots like Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude has re-ignited the discussion around how we can manage and direct artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. A common challenge with these and other AI and machine learning (ML) systems is their Silicon Valley heritage that often excludes the lived experiences of Africans…
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Generative AI (GenAI) models like DALL-E and ChatGPT showcase the creativity and utility of AI. Yet these tools – which can generate realistic image, audio and video simulations at scale and then personalize this content – have serious implications for how much people trust the information they see and hear. Civil society organizations are highly…
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The release of ChatGPT and similar chatbots like Google’s Bard and Anthropic’s Claude has re-ignited the discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) in social, work, financial, health, education, law, and most other spheres. A common challenge with these and other AI and machine learning (ML) systems is their lack of transparency and accountability. Algorithms decide what we…
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In a vibrant exchange of ideas, the October Accra Technology Salon, which discussed the topic, “Can the Principles for Digital Development be Improved?, explored the 9 Principles and their relevance or otherwise in the face of current trends. As anticipated, the 1-hour session created a divided room where majority believed the principles needed improving, and…
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Could an intersectional feminist approach to participation, equity and justice help to address the social and political nature of structural inequalities that are baked into every aspect of the AI supply chain? We drew together a roomful of smart folks to discuss this at our September 19th Technology Salon in NYC: Can Feminist Frameworks improve AI Governance?…
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Pop Quiz! Name all 9 Principles for Digital Development. Try to name them all right now and from your memory. No fair looking at the official list until you’ve exhausted your attempts. This is how we started the recent Technology Salon that asked, “Can the Principles for Digital Development be Improved?” The Principles for Digital…
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The recent Technology Salon on How to Counter Malign Influences in Digital Development was a fascinating discussion that should start with the idea that we are mainly talking about the Chinese and Russian country governments. These governments may not reflect the will of its citizens, or even a majority of them, and the governments themselves…
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Western perspectives on technology tend to dominate the media, despite the fact that technology impacts on people’s lives are nuanced, diverse and contextually specific. At our March 29 Technology Salon NYC (hosted by Thoughtworks) that asked How Can Tech Journalism Tell the Unheard Stories? we discussed how structural issues in journalism and technology lead to…
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As the world became more digital in the wake of COVID-19, the number of mobile applications and online services and support increased exponentially. Many of these apps offer important support to people who live and move in contexts where they are at risk. Digital apps for sensitive services (such as mental health, reproductive health, shelter…
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Our first in-person Technology Salon DC in three years convened on January 25, 2023, to pose the question: Can Generative Artificial Intelligence Technology Improve Aid Outcomes? Thought leaders and decision makers across the international development space shared their optimism, skepticism, and uncertainty regarding generative AI and its consequences as we move closer to the uncanny…
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On May 27, 2021 more than 50 people gathered virtually for a San Francisco Bay Area Technology Salon that investigated different forms of storytelling technology being used effectively in diverse international development environments. Which Storytelling Media are Most Effective for High Impact Campaigns? featured discussion leads based in the US, Israel, and Afghanistan, with…
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Most government funded international development programs start with a Request for Proposal (RFP) that has to follow strict government procurement processes. These systems are designed to protect taxpayer money from waste and fraud and generate very detailed proposals. However, this very focus on risk aversion could actually be increasing the risk that humanitarian relief programing,…
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Our recent virtual San Francisco Bay Area Technology Salon examined how recent efforts helped create the greatest ever voter turnout in the November US election. How Did New Outreach Tools Increase Public Participation and Combat Misinformation in USA Elections? featured insights from discussion leads leveraging technology in a variety of ways to increase the efficacy…