More humanitarian organizations will exploit the potential of AI
For many people served by the humanitarian sector, 2024 is the worst of times. the most recent UN estimates Among those forced to flee violence and disaster are a record 120 million, a number that has doubled in the past decade. The broader number of people in humanitarian need, 300 million people, has increased due to increasingly violent conflicts and the growing impact of the climate crisis. Progress in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was also achieved stagnation or decline in more than half of fragile countries. A child born in those countries is 10 times more likely to fall into poverty than a child born in a stable country.
The unprecedented numbers show the need for a new humanitarian wave: a technological wave, harnessing the power of digital and AI. For years, we have (rightly) debated the risks and benefits of AI and waited for the promise of “AI for Good” to come. In 2025, in the aid, development and humanitarian sector, that time may finally have come.
When leveraged properly, AI can open new frontiers in humanitarian action—in terms of scale, speed, reach, personalization, and cost savings. My organization, International Rescue Committee (IRC) and our internal research and innovation lab, plane, are exploring the applications of AI in our humanitarian program. We are seeing solutions emerging in three critical areas—information, education, and climate—each underpinned by promising public-private partnerships and collaboration.
For example, for refugees forced to flee conflict, the priority is timely, accurate and context-specific information about who to trust and where to find services and safety. Global information project, Signpost, Powered by Google.org—Google’s philanthropic arm—in partnership with IRC, Cisco Foundation, Zendesk, and Tech for Refugees, providing critical information to millions of displaced people through digital channels and networks society, disempowering smugglers who thrive on false or misleading information, and saving lives along migration routes. As this work develops, Signpost is creating an “AI prototyping lab” to mitigate risks and evaluate the effectiveness of Generative AI for the entire humanitarian sector.
Humanitarians are also exploring the potential of Generative AI to enhance and personalize education for children affected by crises—of which there are 224 million worldwide. A major challenge involves testing and enhancing the potential of ChatGPT in local languages. For example, AI models cannot understand African languages. Lelapa AIan “AI research and product lab in Africa” is working to change that, develop new languages to bring AI to Africa, while OpenAI delivery has begun Low and reduced cost access to ChatGPT for nonprofits.
OpenAI is also supporting development AprilAIan AI-driven global education chatbot platform that delivers personalized digital learning experiences at scale through a messaging platform for children, teachers, and parents affected by the crisis crisis, while testing and strengthening the potential of ChatGPT in local languages.
Finally, we are seeing the power of artificial intelligence extended to protect communities facing the harsh impacts of extreme weather. Cooperate with NGOs, governments and the United Nations, Google has launched an AI-powered “Flood Hub” that can now forecast floods in 80 countries. Google.org, along with IRC and NGOs Donate directlyIare leveraging machine learning in Northeastern Nigeria to establish forecasting systems that enable early warnings and cash transfers against devastating climate hazards.
Israeli scholar and historian Yuval Noah Harari Describe artificial intelligence is the most dangerous technology we have ever created—and potentially the most beneficial. By 2025, those benefits must flow to the world’s poorest people.
