Making space to play with AI
Despite growing confidence in AI, there’s more appetite than ever to experiment with and learn about it in safe, low-risk ways. Here are three ways we've been intentionally creating space to play with AI.
Turning Banana Waste into a Solution for Yam Loss
Can banana-fibre paper reduce nematode-related losses in white yam production in northern Ghana? Our two discovery reports outline the promises of a novel nature-based solution and the practical steps towards real-world adoption.
AI Early-Warning Systems to detect Forest Fires
What happens when climate-driven forest fires outpace the capacity of existing fire detection and response mechanisms? Our pilot in Pakistan looked at how AI can enable early-warning systems for forest fires. Read the findings here.
DNA Sequencing for a Frontier Approach to Biodiversity Protection
Tackling the illegal wildlife trade is made harder by the limited tools to accurately identify species and determine their origin. Our MinION pilot in Colombia looked at portable DNA sequencing for better wildlife protection.
How AI can detect faults in broken WASH infrastructure
Gaps in WASH asset data mean that broken water points often go undetected, disproportionately affecting remote and marginalised communities. This pilot looked at how AI-assisted validation could strengthen oversight and ensure WASH infrastructure issues are addressed before they escalate.
Finding and supporting those ‘left behind’ in urban public health systems
Rapid digitisation of local health systems risks leaving behind those most in need of services. This report examines how practical digital features can improve visibility of vulnerable patients and support more equitable outreach.
What does AI mean for data analysts in government (and beyond)?
Driven by the rise of AI tools and the explosion of the global datasphere, governments are facing a rapid shift in how data is created and used. This blog examines the new skills and organisational changes needed for governments to use AI for data analysis responsibly and effectively.
How Bamboo and Straw Could Transform Sustainable Housing
Concrete and other high-carbon materials dominate construction, driving up emissions and costs. This report explores how bamboo and straw could offer scalable, low-carbon alternatives for sustainable housing in resource-constrained regions.
From scripts to systems: where health chatbots add value
Health chatbots don’t succeed because they’re clever, but because they’re embedded in trusted systems with clear referrals to real people at the right time. Here’s what we’ve learned over six years of pilots.
Closing the Data Gap: Digital Public Infrastructure for Forest Risk Commodities
Emerging due diligence and traceability requirements across forest commodity supply chains risk excluding smallholder farmers and producers. This report looks at the potential for open data tools to demonstrate compliance.
Discovery summary: using AI to accelerate access to justice in Malawi
Budgetary constraints and high case backlog pose significant challenges for Malawi’s legal system. Our discovery report contains research findings on how AI can improve efficiency and enhance access to justice within Malawi.
Pilot summary: Using AI to scale access to forest carbon markets
Read the final report for our pilot ‘Using AI to scale access to forest carbon markets’
Smart GeoSeals pilot report - using technology to improve humanitarian supply chains
Read the report for our pilot 'Smart GeoSeals to track delivery of humanitarian aid' here
EmpatIA pilot report - our findings in enhancing healthcare for remote areas in Peru
Read the report for our pilot 'EmpatIA - enhancing healthcare access to remote areas in Peru' here
How three frontier technologies are transforming humanitarian aid supply chains
The global demand for humanitarian aid is surging, with 308m+ people expected to need assistance by 2024. Traditional supply chains are struggling to keep up, and the pressure mounting to deliver aid faster, smarter, and more efficiently has never been greater.
Project EmpatIA Starts: Peru
Explore learnings from our pilot, ‘EmpatIA — AI to enhance healthcare in remote areas of Peru'.
