SAFE AI glossary

Plain-language definitions to help organisations build better, safer and more effective AI partnerships.
No technical background needed.

A humanitarian hears ‘model’ and thinks ‘prototype’ or a new innovation. A data scientist hears ‘protection’ and thinks ‘cybersecurity’.

Both are right. And both might be wrong in a conversation that matters.

As humanitarians and technologists increasingly work together to design and deploy AI solutions, the stakes are high. Miscommunication and misunderstandings can lead to wasted resources, broken trust and harm to the communities we are seeking to help. Bridging the communication gap between humanitarian professionals and AI experts can reduce friction, help align expectations and prevent ethical pitfalls.

This glossary helps users identify the ‘bugs in the conversation’ – the different vocabulary used by humanitarians and tech experts that can create communication challenges. By understanding each other better, we can build better, safer and more effective partnerships.