Technology Salon

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a discussion at the intersection of technology and development

Our Past Meetings

  • how to assess ai international development

    We Must Assess Artificial Intelligence Impact Today in International Development

    Washington DC | By on September 15, 2024 | Comments Off on We Must Assess Artificial Intelligence Impact Today in International Development

    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…

  • ai4good partnerships

    AI for Good Partnerships Reveal Old Challenges with New Technology

    New York | By on June 25, 2024 | Comments Off on AI for Good Partnerships Reveal Old Challenges with New Technology

    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…

  • genai guidance policy

    You Need Generative AI Guidance and Data Governance Policy

    Washington DC | By on May 12, 2024 | Comments Off on You Need Generative AI Guidance and Data Governance Policy

    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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  • genai nonprofit adoption

    10 Ways to Help Your Organization Adopt Artificial Intelligence

    New York | By on April 2, 2024 | Comments Off on 10 Ways to Help Your Organization Adopt Artificial Intelligence

    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;…

  • ghana genai developers

    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…

  • elections disinformation

    How GenAI Will Affect Election Misinformation in 2024

    New York | By on December 12, 2023 | Comments Off on How GenAI Will Affect Election Misinformation in 2024

    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…

  • ai-accountability

    Meaningful Participation and Accountability is Possible in AI

    New York | By on November 1, 2023 | Comments Off on Meaningful Participation and Accountability is Possible in AI

    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…

  • digital principles

    How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    Accra | By on October 28, 2023 | Comments Off on How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    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…

  • dall-e feminist ai

    How to Apply Feminist Frameworks to AI Governance

    New York | By on October 17, 2023 | Comments Off on How to Apply Feminist Frameworks to AI Governance

    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?…

  • digital principles

    How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    Washington DC | By on July 23, 2023 | Comments Off on How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    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…

  • Counter Malign Influences China Russia

    How to Counter the Malign Influences of China and Russia in Digital Development

    Washington DC | By on May 31, 2023 | Comments Off on How to Counter the Malign Influences of China and Russia in Digital Development

    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…

  • Tech Journalism

    How Technology Journalism Can Tell Unheard Stories

    New York | By on April 10, 2023 | Comments Off on How Technology Journalism Can Tell Unheard Stories

    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…

  • sensitive services

    9 Considerations for Designing Safe Digital Solutions for Sensitive Services

    New York | By on March 28, 2023 | Comments Off on 9 Considerations for Designing Safe Digital Solutions for Sensitive Services

    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…

  • generative ai tech salon

    How Generative AI Can Improve Aid Outcomes

    Washington DC | By on January 26, 2023 | Comments Off on How Generative AI Can Improve Aid Outcomes

    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…

  • Effective Storytelling Media for High Impact Campaigns

    San Francisco | By on June 4, 2021 | Comments Off on Effective Storytelling Media for High Impact Campaigns

      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…

  • agile technology salon

    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,…

  • ict4d domestic elections

    How New Outreach Tools Increased Public Participation in USA Elections

    San Francisco | By on December 3, 2020 | Comments Off on How New Outreach Tools Increased Public Participation in USA Elections

    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…

  • women in tech

    How to Walk the Talk of Female Representation in ICT4D

    Washington DC | By on October 30, 2020 | Comments Off on How to Walk the Talk of Female Representation in ICT4D

    The digital development field has consistently focused on improving female access to technology and related services across low- and middle-income countries. With over 250 million more women owning a mobile phone as compared to 2014, there has been considerable progress. Yet, the importance of female representation in leadership has become even clearer. A recent study indicated that…

  • 5 Ways AgTech and KM Can Increase Food Security During COVID-19

    Washington DC | By on August 20, 2020 | Comments Off on 5 Ways AgTech and KM Can Increase Food Security During COVID-19

    The coronavirus pandemic is creating unprecedented food insecurity around the world. The World Food Programme estimates that the number of people facing acute hunger will double to 265 million in 2020. This global challenge comes on top of existing vulnerabilities including conflict, climate change and economic crises compounded by long-standing social and structural discrimination based…

  • How Should Funders Support the COVID-19 Digital Response?

    COVID-19, New York | By on June 16, 2020 | Comments Off on How Should Funders Support the COVID-19 Digital Response?

    Our sixth virtual Salon in the “Tech in the Time of Coronavirus” series revolved around the role of funders in the COVID-19 digital response. The pandemic has laid bare the vulnerabilities in our economic models and systems. As we look to the future and strive to build a world that is more resilient, funders have…