In the presentation titled “Making Measurement Matter”, Emmanuel Letouzé, Director of Data-Pop Alliance and of the OPAL project, discusses the role, limits and requirements of measurement for development. In particular, he asks whether – and how much impact – measuring has an effect on what is measured. According to Letouzé, we measure things because facts and data matter; because measurement helps us assign a value so we can differentiate desired results from negative ones. This causal link can be strengthened by increasing access to appropriate data, by fostering a healthy data culture and by improving data literacy. In this presentation, Letouzé introduces the concept and vision of a Human AI and its applicability to Human Development, based on a recent paper published with Professor Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland in ITU’s special issue: Data for Good. In this vision, AI is both a tool and an analogy for understanding and reinforcing collective actions that help societies reach agreed-upon goals – and for revisiting those goals if needed.

Watch the video above for the entire session.