For many of the people served by the humanitarian sector, 2024 has been the worst of times. He latest UN estimates The number of people forced to flee violence and disasters is a record 120 million, a figure that has doubled in the last decade. The largest number of people in humanitarian need, 300 million people, has been increased by increasingly violent conflicts and the growing impacts of the climate crisis. Progress in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has also been stagnant or declining in more than half of fragile countries. A child born in those countries is ten times more likely to fall into poverty than one born in a stable state.
These unprecedented numbers show the need for a new humanitarian push: a technological one, harnessing the power of digital and artificial intelligence. For years we have (rightly) debated the risks and benefits of AI and waited for the promise of “AI for good.” In 2025, across the humanitarian, aid and development sector, that moment may finally be near.
When properly leveraged, AI can open new frontiers in humanitarian action – in scale, speed, reach, personalization and cost savings. my organization, International Rescue Committee (IRC) and our internal research and innovation laboratory, aerbel, We are exploring applications of AI in our humanitarian programming. We are seeing solutions emerge in three critical areas: information, education and climate, each reinforced by promising public-private partnerships and collaborations.
For example, for refugees forced to flee conflict, the first priority is timely, accurate and context-specific information about who to trust and where to find services and safety. The Signpost global information project, With the support of Google.org, Google’s charitable arm, in partnership with IRC, Cisco Foundation, Zendesk and Tech for Refugees, provides critical information to millions of displaced people through digital channels and social networks, disempowering the smugglers who They thrive on misinformation or misinformation. and save lives along migratory routes. As this work evolves, Signpost is creating an “AI prototyping lab” to de-risk and evaluate the effectiveness of generative AI for the entire humanitarian sector.
Humanitarian workers are also exploring the potential of generative AI to improve and personalize education for children affected by crises, of whom there are 224 million worldwide. A big challenge involves testing and strengthening ChatGPT’s potential in local languages. AI models, for example, cannot understand African languages. Lelapa AIan African “AI research and products lab,” is working to change that, developing new languages bring AI to Africa, while OpenAI has begun to offer Reduced, low-cost access to ChatGPT for nonprofits.
OpenAI is also supporting the development of LearnAIa global AI-powered educational chatbot platform that delivers personalized digital learning experiences at scale across messaging platforms for crisis-affected children, teachers, and parents, all while testing and strengthening the potential of ChatGPT in local languages.
Finally, we are seeing the power of artificial intelligence expanded to protect communities facing the harsh impacts of extreme weather. In partnership with NGOs, governments and the UN, Google has launched an AI-powered “Flood Center” that can currently forecast floods in 80 countries. Google.org, together with IRC and the NGO Give directlyYos leveraging machine learning in northeastern Nigeria to establish forecasting systems that activate early warnings and cash transfers ahead of devastating climate hazards.
Israeli scholar and historian Yuval Noah Harari artificial intelligence described as the most dangerous technology we have ever created and potentially the most beneficial. By 2025, those benefits must reach the world’s poorest.