Artifical intelligence enters the humanitarian workforce

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When it comes to humanitarian work these days, non-humans are giving a helping hand. It used to be rangers catching poachers in Africa, now it is AI drones.

From our smartphones to robots working as customer service assistants, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. In some cases, we might not even know whether we are interacting with a human or a machine. This is not because AI is acquiring human consciousness, but because of the advances in machine learning.

A common misconception is that the goal of AI technology is to mimic humans. Perhaps because of AI portrayals in films like WALL-E and Ex-Machina, we don't visualize AI in the form it usually operates. Currently, the technology is not as exotic and manipulative as Ex-Machina, but it can fly and deal with vast amounts of data. 

AI mimics human cognitive functions like learning and problem-solving at much higher rates. The idea is to use AI for matters a single human brain can't compute.

Ex Machina - Universal

Despite good intentions of the humanitarian sector, humans are affected by emotions and experiences, leading to inevitable subjectivity. Not only are AI technologies more capable of processing vast amounts of data, AI also gives data-driven responses, eliminating human bias. Recognizing the value of AI, humanitarian organizations are implementing it in their work.

AI technology has been successful in catching poachers in Africa. Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security (PAWS) is a service that analyzes large data on poaching behaviour and uses game theory to create the best routes for rangers to catch poachers.

The Air Shepard program uses drones to detect animals and poachers in the wild with thermo-imaging technology. The drone senses different body heats on the move, which is especially beneficial at night time when most poaching happens.

Air Shepard

Probably the most common use of AI technology in the humanitarian sector is chatbots. The organization Arthritis Research UK "employs" a virtual assistant — Arthritis Virtual Assistant (AVA) — that gives customized advice to visitors on their questions about arthritis.

AVA is available 24 hours a day, doesn’t go on holiday, and doesn’t get sick — it is easily the employee of the month. For more personalized and in-depth queries, visitors are still advised to call (a human), but a bulk of people are helped by AVA alone. 

Overall, AI is more efficient at doing some tasks. While job loss to AI is an upcoming fear, if AI technologies replace a fraction of human labour in humanitarian organizations, they can focus more on their cause.

Despite these examples, the humanitarian sector is still heavily absent in the discussions surrounding AI development: "Charities and non-profits do not have a seat at the table in many forums where these issues are being debated."

Organizations like AI For Good are emerging, seeking to apply AI research for global sustainable development.

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