The wave of artificial intelligence is coming; INGOs must ride it or be swallowed by it.
Positive Minds | Positive Stories | Edition 036
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, reached 100 million users two months after its launch in November 2022. By comparison, it took TikTok about nine months to reach 100 million users, Instagram more than two years, and Facebook four and half years.
Less than a year after its launch, ChatGPT is challenging things taken for granted, such as how people teach and learn.
In an article published on 15 June 2023, The Economist explains how ChatGPT could help teachers and lower the cost of college. They argue that the college essay may be dying, but AI has plenty of upsides in education. Acknowledging the concerns and fears of faculties, they highlight the advantages of colleges adopting AI.
AI affects more than just the education sector. It affects all sectors, including the development and the humanitarian world. Like universities, INGOs must adapt to the exponential advancement of AI and do it quite quickly.
How can INGOs adapt to the AI revolution?
AI gives INGOs the opportunity to give every staff member an assistant to perform routine and repetitive tasks.
In the Economist article, Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, said, "[AI] gives us the opportunity to give every student a one-on-one tutor, every teacher a teaching assistant, and more". Drawing a parallel with INGOs, I would argue that "AI gives INGOs the opportunity to give every staff member an assistant to perform routine and repetitive tasks". But to leverage the potential of AI, INGOs must welcome and embrace it, not resist or reject it.
INGOs can take several steps to adapt to AI in a way that benefits their work and aligns with their mission and values. I'll list three.
Invest in digital transformation. As the saying goes, "Slow and steady wins the race". Robust digital infrastructure is to the AI what the foundation is to the building. You don't erect a building on a weak foundation. So digital transformation is the first and most crucial step for any organisation looking to leverage the power of AI.
Establish data management and governance. I live in a compound with four buildings of 10 flats each. Each flat has four apartments making it a total of 160 apartments for the compound. You risk anarchy and chaos when you leave it to everyone to do whatever they want in the compound. It would help if you had standard rules and ways of operating that everyone should abide by. Similarly, when an organisation plans to adopt AI, it must prevent chaos and anarchy by establishing good data management practices, including data collection, storage, and processing. It also needs robust policies to ensure data privacy, security, compliance, and critical ethical use of AI.
Build staff and partners' capacity. Goodwill is not enough to win a football match; you need a good team with good players who complement each other and are well-trained. To harness the potential of AI while mitigating its risks, INGOs must train staff and partners on what AI is, how it can be used, and its potential impact. This might involve hiring new staff with expertise in AI or providing existing staff with additional training.
How can INGOs use AI to achieve their missions?
AI can be a game-changer for INGOs because it offers a range of opportunities to optimise their efforts, increase efficiency, and broaden their reach.
AI can be a game-changer for INGOs because it offers a range of opportunities to optimise their efforts, increase efficiency, and broaden their reach. They can use AI for a wide range of things, such as (1) analysing large amounts of data, (2) automating repetitive and administrative tasks, (3) communicating with stakeholders using AI-driven chatbots such as ChatGPT, (4) monitoring social media platforms and tailoring their messaging, (5) predicting future trends or issues by analysing current data or (6) enhancing online collaboration and remote work.
By adopting AI, INGOs can yield many advantages, including:
Increased efficiency and cost savings: Automation can free up staff time, allowing them to focus on strategic activities. AI can also save costs by reducing the need for human labour in specific tasks. For example, HR can use it to optimise recruitment processes and avoid bias; supply chains can automate vendor selection using well-defined criteria.
Improved decision-making: AI's ability to analyse data can lead to better decision-making. For example, program teams can anticipate humanitarian action based on patterns of past and current crises; Fundraisers can analyse donor behaviour to enhance fundraising strategies, and so on.
Greater reach: AI tools such as chatbots can help NGOs reach a wider audience. For example, Advocacy and campaign can analyse media trends, including social media, to prepare and push targeted key messages to their audience.
Despite the enormous advantages of AI, it also brings considerable risks to be managed effectively.
What are the potential risks INGOs need to manage?
AI is a double-edged sword. INGOs must use it skillfully to deliver impact, value, and support their mission.
There are three potential risks INGOs should be aware of as they adopt the AI and leverage its enormous benefits.
Ethical considerations: As with any digital technology, AI can infringe on privacy rights and produce biased results, especially if the data used to train the AI is biased. NGOs must ensure that their use of AI adheres to ethical guidelines and will not undermine their effort to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the decolonisation agenda.
Cybersecurity risks: As with any digital technology, AI systems can be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and attacks. NGOs must ensure strong security measures to protect their digital infrastructure.
Dependency on tech companies: Nowadays, almost all NGOs, large or small, depend on Microsoft 365 to communicate, collaborate and share information in real time. They, therefore, depend on Micorosft to work effectively. In the future, AI could create a greater dependency than Micorosft. This dependency could put NGOs at risk if a company changes its policies or pricing.
AI is a double-edged sword. INGOs must use it skillfully to deliver impact, value, and support their mission.
Several INGOs are leveraging the power of AI to support their mission.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF uses AI and machine learning for conservation efforts. For example, they use AI to analyse images and data from camera traps to track animal populations and poaching activities.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): ICRC uses AI in conflict zones to predict potential violence and displacement of people. This helps them better prepare and respond to humanitarian crises.
Amnesty International: Amnesty uses AI to analyse social media posts and satellite imagery to document and report human rights abuses. In 2018, they launched a "Troll Patrol" project that used machine learning to detect and report online abuse against women.
Rainforest Connection: This environmental NGO uses AI-powered devices to listen for the sound of illegal logging in the rainforest and send real-time alerts to local authorities.
Operation Smile: This medical service organisation uses a facial modelling algorithm and Microsoft Pix to improve their surgical outcomes and help more children in need of facial surgeries. They developed a mobile app that uses machine learning to assess the severity of a cleft condition and aid in treatment planning.
In conclusion
AI is here to stay and will fundamentally disrupt the way development and humanitarian actions are delivered in the future. INGOs must adapt quickly to this dynamic if they are to seize the enormous potential of AI while managing the potential risks and drawbacks.
Is your organisation adopting AI, and how is it using it? If so, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
