In the final episode of Road to GEM, Harvard Kennedy School MPP candidate Slavina Ancheva speaks with Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor at Harvard SEAS, about the intersection of artificial intelligence, equity, and global development. Together, they explore how AI technologies can both bridge and deepen digital divides — especially in low-resource and underserved regions.
Dr. Calmon shares insights from his research on fairness, privacy, and reliability in machine learning systems. The conversation highlights critical challenges in ensuring that AI tools are not only effective but also ethical and inclusive. They discuss bias mitigation, the importance of diverse data representation, and the ways in which technical design must align with social and policy objectives.
For listeners working at the crossroads of tech, policy, and justice, this episode offers a nuanced look at how to build AI systems that reflect and respect global realities.
Guest: Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Host: Slavina Ancheva, Master in Public Policy Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School
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In the final episode of Road to GEM, Harvard Kennedy School MPP candidate Slavina Ancheva speaks with Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor at Harvard SEAS, about the intersection of artificial intelligence, equity, and global development. Together, they explore how AI technologies can both bridge and deepen digital divides — especially in low-resource and underserved regions.
Dr. Calmon shares insights from his research on fairness, privacy, and reliability in machine learning systems. The conversation highlights critical challenges in ensuring that AI tools are not only effective but also ethical and inclusive. They discuss bias mitigation, the importance of diverse data representation, and the ways in which technical design must align with social and policy objectives.
For listeners working at the crossroads of tech, policy, and justice, this episode offers a nuanced look at how to build AI systems that reflect and respect global realities.
Guest: Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Host: Slavina Ancheva, Master in Public Policy Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School
AI for Good? Navigating Innovation, Participation, and Impact in Humanitarian Work
Harvard Center for International Development
40 minutes 57 seconds
7 months ago
AI for Good? Navigating Innovation, Participation, and Impact in Humanitarian Work
Artificial Intelligence is transforming humanitarian aid—but what does responsible, community-centered innovation really look like? In this episode we explore how AI is being applied across CARE’s work in humanitarian and development contexts, from real-time needs assessment to amplifying women’s voices during crises.
Emily Janoch, with nearly two decades of experience in systems design and evidence-based learning, shares how CARE is using AI to drive dignity-focused development. Joining her is Kalkidan Lakew, whose work emphasizes the importance of data-driven storytelling and community-led response. Together, they shed light on the challenges of bias, access, and misinformation in AI—and what it means to use this powerful tool ethically and inclusively.
Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a development practitioner, or simply curious about the intersection of tech and global impact, this conversation offers grounded insights into what “AI for good” really means in practice.
Guests: Emily Janoch, Associate Vice President for Thought Leadership and Design at CARE | Kalkidan (Kal) Lakew, Program Coordinator at CARE
Student Host: Ritul Madhukar
Harvard Center for International Development
In the final episode of Road to GEM, Harvard Kennedy School MPP candidate Slavina Ancheva speaks with Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor at Harvard SEAS, about the intersection of artificial intelligence, equity, and global development. Together, they explore how AI technologies can both bridge and deepen digital divides — especially in low-resource and underserved regions.
Dr. Calmon shares insights from his research on fairness, privacy, and reliability in machine learning systems. The conversation highlights critical challenges in ensuring that AI tools are not only effective but also ethical and inclusive. They discuss bias mitigation, the importance of diverse data representation, and the ways in which technical design must align with social and policy objectives.
For listeners working at the crossroads of tech, policy, and justice, this episode offers a nuanced look at how to build AI systems that reflect and respect global realities.
Guest: Dr. Flavio du Pin Calmon, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Host: Slavina Ancheva, Master in Public Policy Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School
