Dr. Samir Abu Rumman
Artificial intelligence is considered one of the most prominent technological innovations that has brought about a radical transformation in various areas of life. It has contributed to improving efficiency and accuracy of performance by analyzing massive amounts of data at an unprecedented speed. However, there is confusion between artificial intelligence and other traditional technologies, as noted in some writings about attempts to rise to the level of specialization in the field of artificial intelligence, this amazing field that has enabled machines to perform tasks previously thought to be the exclusive domain of humans, or that required a group of individuals to be able to perform them within a specific period. Since we are discussing this concept, we must move beyond discussing artificial intelligence in the secretarial, administrative, and editorial sense to more complex concepts and applications, even in the field of charitable work. I quote from what I heard from a Google representative at the ECOSOC meetings at the United Nations about their experiences and partnerships with humanitarian and relief organizations and the United Nations in the fundamental aspects of these organizations’ work.
In the context of disaster damage detection, Google developed Sky technology, which instantly identifies which buildings have been damaged in a given area. When fed with other data from government social protection systems or census data that monitors socioeconomic vulnerability, it provides a highly accurate map to pinpoint the poor areas most severely affected by that particular disaster.
In the context of improving weather forecasting, Google developed the GraphCast model, which rapidly improved the ability to predict severe weather disasters. It also worked with the World Food Programme to improve weather forecasting in East African countries.
In the context of disaster forecasting, Google has worked with the Humanitarian Data Hub of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Humanitarian Data Exchange for years to improve data analysis in specific environments and times. For several years, Google has applied artificial intelligence to enhance flood forecasting, providing flood forecasts that have enabled several humanitarian organizations to provide pre-emptive cash assistance to those in need.
The McKinsey Institute’s “AI for Good: Improving Quality of Life and Protecting the Planet 2024” report, which included a survey of experts, states that AI has tremendous potential to make a revolutionary and tangible impact on five specific goals: good health and well-being (Goal 3), quality education (Goal 4), climate action (Goal 13), affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), and sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11). Sixty percent of AI applications in nonprofit organizations focused on achieving public good were focused on these areas, and nearly 40% of investments in 20,000 AI companies directly or indirectly contribute to achieving one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It’s worth noting the Charity Digital Skills 2024 report, which presented the results of a survey of 635 UK charities to report on their experiences in the digital world. The results showed that 61% of charities currently use AI in their work, with 45% using AI tools as a pilot, 11% using AI tools across the organization, and a further 5% working to achieve this goal. Half of large charities (53%) say AI tools are a priority, while only a quarter of small charities do so (26%). While half of small charities (53%) use AI tools, three-quarters of large charities do so (78%).
In terms of AI uses, there were common traditional uses such as developing online content (33%), administrative tasks such as summarizing meetings (32%), drafting documents and reports (28%), creativity and idea generation (27%), and research and information gathering (24%). To a lesser extent, 19% were used in fundraising for tasks such as writing bids and finding funders, 15% in service delivery, and 8% in data analysis, including 4% who used predictive analytics to target donors.
During my experience last month, I refereed research for the Philanthropy and Artificial Intelligence Conference at Kuwait University. Over 100 research papers were submitted, and only 21 were accepted and published. I refereed four of them and accepted two with amendments. If I wanted to be more strict, I would have rejected those as well, because they discussed AI in a way that has become familiar in the context of editing and proofreading, or in a traditional way, and conflated it with other technological applications! A July 2023 report by Inside Philanthropy magazine examined the special role philanthropy plays in the development of artificial intelligence, led by some of the world’s largest philanthropists who made their fortunes in the technology sector. According to the report, Eric and Wendy Schmidt have pledged more than $400 million to AI, the late Paul Allen increased support by more than $125 million to the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Fred Luddy donated more than $60 million to establish an AI research initiative. Other donors, including the Ford, Rockefeller, and MacArthur foundations, have pledged nearly $1 billion in the past decade to study, develop, and safeguard AI. These possibilities that AI offers to humanitarian organizations have prompted me to suggest adding more detailed and direct practical recommendations for charitable organizations that wish to implement AI. These recommendations include not only using AI, its programs, and services, but also engaging in influencing and creating experiences in coordination with major AI software manufacturers. They should also include implementation steps or proposals for specific AI-based tools and software that can assist these organizations in their work.
These are some of the ideas I will be honored to discuss and benefit from the participants in the First Forum on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence in Charitable Work on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Organized by the International Mercy Association under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the forum will bring together 230 researchers and workers in the charitable sector, including more than 41 directors and officials from various ministries and associations.
References:
(1) GraphCast: An AI model for faster and more accurate global weather forecasting.
(2) World Food Programme, Sky: Unleashing the power of AI to revolutionize disaster response and humanitarian aid.
(3) AI for Good: Improving quality of life and protecting the planet, McKinsey Report 2024.
(4) Digital Skills for Charities Report 2024.
(5) The AI Revolution Reaches Philanthropy.
