If you're not online, are you in the future?
AI is a snapshot of the past. Ten years of AI pilots taught us that the constraint is rarely the algorithm.
The road to OASIS (and an invitation to use it yourself)
OASIS is a shared, open home for AI in development, where practitioners can find, discuss and build on each other's work rather than starting from scratch. Come and join us.
Systemic investing and the path to stabilise our food systems from climate risks
We explore what the next phase of adaptation finance could look like for food supply chains exposed to climate shocks.
An ethics for the disappeared in a technological age
What does ethical action look like when humanitarian crises intersect with rapidly advancing technologies? Eight ethical lessons from the frontier of forensic technologies.
Responsible AI on the Frontier
The value of testing something imperfect often outweighs the cost of not testing it at all.
The pilot ended, but the flying didn’t
Could drones help control desert locusts? A simple question, with a five year answer.
Piloting AI before it became mainstream
How can you cut through the noise of superabundant AI content? By telling stories of impactful AI that no one has ever heard before.
In the battle for trust, AI is a problem and can be a solution
Can AI enable civil society organisations, culturally and contextually embedded but often under-resourced, to act faster and at a more ambitious scale to create more resilient societies, and to detect mis- and disinformation initiatives more effectively?
What investors really want to see in climate adaptation startups
Over the past year, the Frontier Tech Hub has been exploring how to diversify and scale capital into the critical area of climate adaptation and resilience. Here’s what we learned from our first three pilots.
Five barriers preventing climate finance from working for those who need it most
The World Bank calls carbon markets "essential for accelerating climate action in developing countries," but can ambitious frameworks deliver for the communities they're meant to serve?
Vai’s story: the first frame, groove and complex cut
When the Solomon Islands’ first CNC milling machine arrived, the operator role needed to be familiar with the AutoCAD design software. In a company of nearly 100 people, six were women, and two of them knew AutoCAD: Vai, and her sister. The opportunity went to Vai.
Violet’s story: navigating without a map
Today, Violet Ochieng is Kenya’s country representative for precision agriculture, in a field where around 90% of licensed pilots are men. She has built her expertise largely by finding her own way, and she is determined that the next generation will not have to do the same.
Where is the frontier today?
Here are ten things we learned from our 10th call for applications.
Pradita’s story: opening access to learning beyond Kathmandu
Pradita was an intern at Field Ready Nepal in 2017 when she saw the 3D printer on the table. Eight years after the pilot project, she is the Founder and Executive Director of Fab Foundation Nepal, continuing to explore the same question.
Building AI tools in a year that felt like ten: Technical learnings from DevExplorer
As AI capabilities evolved at breakneck speed, the DevExplorer team rebuilt their tool three times in a single year. This blog reflects on the technical and organisational lessons learned from building an LLM-powered product for international development in a rapidly shifting AI landscape.
Frontier tech to strengthen information integrity
Today, we’re announcing a new cohort of pilots harnessing frontier technologies to strengthen information integrity.
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.
Using AI to unlock forest carbon markets in Tanzania
While AI tools for monitoring forest cover exist already, these solutions are often trained on data that does not apply across other contexts. Our pilot in Tanzania found that impact depends on local skills, institutions, and long-term ownership.
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.
