Join CDAC Network and MERL Tech Initiative: accountability and AI in humanitarian action
Photo caption: Image provided by Unsplash/@and_machines
We are excited to announce a special event, bringing together CDAC Network’s Community of Practice on AI with MERL Tech Initiative’s Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group, to discuss how we ensure accountability is built into the growth of AI in the humanitarian sector.
When: Tuesday, August 6th, 9-10:30am ET / 2-3:30pm BST / 4-5:30pm EAT
Where: Virtual on Zoom (register here)
Who: Open to all CDAC Network members, MTI participants, and anyone working at the intersection of humanitarian action & AI
Please note that this replaces our regular monthly AI Community of Practice for Humanitarians this month, as we join forces with MERL Tech's Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group for this critical discussion.
What is the event about?
We will bring our two powerhouse groups together to talk about accountability and the growth of AI in the humanitarian sector. Together with expert speakers we will discuss: bringing experience in developing technical standards, working directly with communities, and helping humanitarian decision makers develop internal policies.
We will discuss:
In what ways does AI as a technology re-shape or require humanitarians to rethink their approach to accountability?
What kind of governance should humanitarians develop in response or in preemption of changes brought about by AI? What existing frameworks can we re-use or adapt? And what kind of new frameworks might we need?
What kind of participatory processes should humanitarians use to update and create accountability frameworks fit for the demands of humanitarian AI?
How can standards and regulation play a role in the governance discussion?
What barriers or challenges might humanitarians face in pursuing accountability for AI tools? How can we tackle these?
What kinds of accountability methods and metrics do humanitarians already have that will serve them well in the AI discourse?
As AI becomes more omnipresent in an increasingly resource constrained operational environment, we need to collectively think about how humanitarians can establish shared frameworks to ensure accountability for their use of AI and collective efforts to push AI companies and governments for accountability for AI use in humanitarian settings.
Why bring the two networks together?
CDAC Network and MERL Tech Initiative both recognise that as AI increasingly shapes humanitarian response, we must center accountability, transparency and community participation in how these tools are developed and deployed.
At CDAC Network, we bring together a network of humanitarian practitioners who understand that technology decisions cannot be made in isolation from the communities they serve. Our focus on participatory AI in the humanitarian sector means ensuring that people affected by crises have a meaningful say in the technology that will make decisions about their lives.
Our work also emphasises that people affected by crises must be aware of and have a say in how their data is used—for more on this, see our SAFE AI project.
Register here to join us – the meeting is open to all, members and non-members alike!
Speakers
Chairs: Helen McElhinney (Executive Director, CDAC Network) and Quito T (MERL Tech Initiative)
Speakers:
Linda Raftree, Founder, MERL Tech Initative
Stella Suge, Director, FilmAid Kenya
Anjali Mazumder, AI and Justice & Human Rights Lead, The Alan Turing Institute