At a panel in Davos earlier this year on “AI for Humanitarian and Development Applications”, the moderator began by asking our overall perspective on the state of the world and AI’s current and potential contributions. A fellow panelist replied first “I am very optimistic!”; however, when my turn came I said I did not share that view. Instead, I expressed my anger at the state of the world, and frustration at the mainstream ways in and purposes for which AI was being developed. A few months after Davos came the 30th Anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, which, due in part to the Internet’s rise at the same time, unfolded before the world’s eyes, and yet no action was taken to stop it for 100 days. The unmet promise of the Internet’s power for positive change established a pattern that has only repeated in years since, with mis- and disinformation campaigns facilitated or accelerated by digital technologies, now including AI. While the overall effect of the Web and of the more recent ‘Data Revolution’ is a classic story of a “glass half empty and half full”, it is fair and safe to argue that the glass should be much fuller: the world of 2024 should be much safer and fairer, more empathetic, sustainable and hospitable than it is; and that AI’s current and future contribution should be much more positive than it is on track for currently.

Anger and frustration can fuel despair and cynicism, or determination and commitment; renouncement or resolve. I am trying to stay on the latter path, led by one question: What can I do, and what can we do as an organization, to make data and AI forces of positive social change, towards a less violent, less polarized, less fragmented, more equal, more fraternal, more sustainable world? Key enabling factors and positive outcomes are well known from the lessons of past socio-technological revolutions. They include intentional inclusion, participatory innovation, ‘popular’ education, compassion, ecosystems thinking and change, and, fundamentally, instilling and nurturing a humanistic vision and values as the ultimate end goal and yardsticks of every action. This vision and values are those of ‘‘Human AI’ as described in a chapter of a book published by UNESCO and MILA titled “AI for the SDGs—And Beyond? Towards a Human AI Culture for Development and Democracy”.