Peering Through the Data Scope: Uncovering the Unknown

Humanitarian Frontiers in AI

How can humanitarian organizations harness the power of AI while safeguarding data and ensuring ethical use? In this episode, hosts Nasim Motalebi and Chris Hoffman are joined by experts Jeff Wagg and Matthew Harris to demystify the complexities of AI and data management in the humanitarian space. Jeff is an AI consultant for Relief International, where he focuses on deploying innovative AI solutions in fragile settings. Matthew brings his expertise from DataKind and the World Food Programme, specializing in data science and AI practices for scalable and equitable solutions. In today's conversation, they explore the role of data in AI-driven solutions and how these tools are reshaping global humanitarian efforts. Jeff and Matthew discuss the challenges of managing heterogeneous datasets, the importance of data governance, and practical tools to ensure data quality. They unpack using AI for predictive analytics in famine and disease management, and they discuss the ethical considerations surrounding privacy, data security, and AI’s broader societal implications. Join the conversation and discover the immense potential of AI to transform the humanitarian sector with Jeff Wagg and Matthew Harris! Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jeff and Matthew's professional expertise and what fascinates them about AI.
• The role of data in AI applications and its significance for humanitarian work.
• Unpack the challenges of managing and integrating heterogeneous datasets.
• Risks of incomplete or biased datasets and how they impact AI outcomes.
• Learn about approaches for overcoming unstructured and incomplete data sets.
• Essential data governance practices and why protecting personal information is vital.
• Ethical considerations of using AI in humanitarian work and the 'Do No Harm' principle.
• Find out why a model's use case, biases, and technology stacks are significant.
• Matthew and Jeff explain the critical need for data engineers and cloud specialists.
• Hear examples of innovative AI use cases and what AI needs to be effective.
• Their opinions of leveraging chatbots for engagement and support services.
• Why risk analysis and evaluation frameworks for deploying AI tools are important.
• Explore the current and future trends of AI in healthcare, agriculture, and humanitarian aid.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jeff Wagg on LinkedIn

Relief International

Matthew Harris on LinkedIn

Program Integrity Alliance

World Food Programme

'Generative AI for Humanitarians'

LangSmith

DataKind

Nasim Motalebi
Nasim Motalebi on LinkedIn
Chris Hoffman on LinkedIn