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AI for Humanitarianism: Fostering Social Change Through Emerging Technologies

A Volume in Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series.

Taylor & Francis Catalog #: T116283, ISBN: 978-1-032-74839-9

Assoc. Prof. Abel Ajibesin
Chair, Software Engineering,
School of IT and Computing,
American University of Nigeria
Assoc. Prof. Narasimha Rao Vajjhala
Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
University of New York Tirana

About the Book

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Humanitarianism: Fostering Social Change Through Emerging Technologies, a volume in Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics series will offer a comprehensive coverage of the intersection between AI and humanitarian work. This book will be a one-stop resource for readers interested in this unique and important intersection. The book will bridge the gap between AI practitioners and humanitarian professionals. This book will bring together these two fields and foster mutual understanding and collaboration by making technical concepts accessible to non-technical readers and highlighting the real-world implications of AI in humanitarian work. This book will address the ethical considerations of using AI in humanitarian work, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential for unintended consequences. This book will meet the need for thoughtful discussions on the responsible and ethical use of technology by tackling these important topics. This book will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, allowing it to explore the technological, social, political, and ethical dimensions of AI in humanitarian work. This wide-ranging scope of this book will satisfy the need for resources that consider the complexities and nuances of using emerging technologies for social impact.

Note: There are NO submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication.

Research Questions

The research questions guiding this proposed book project include:

  1. How are AI technologies currently being used in humanitarian contexts, and what are the most successful applications and outcomes to date?

  2. What are the main challenges and obstacles that practitioners face when trying to integrate AI into humanitarian work, and how can they be addressed?

  3. How can AI technologies be designed and deployed ethically in humanitarian contexts, particularly when working with vulnerable populations?

  4. What role do local communities and beneficiaries play in the development and deployment of AI technologies for humanitarian work, and how can their input and agency be prioritized?

  5. What tools, strategies, and best practices can be developed to support the effective and responsible integration of AI into humanitarian efforts?

  6. How does the use of AI in humanitarian work relate to broader trends and debates in AI, technology, and social impact, and what can be learned from these intersections?

Topics (Suggestive but not limited to)

The proposed tentative content for this book is given below:

  1. Relevance of AI in Humanitarian Contexts

  2. Potential of AI for Social Impact

    • Addressing the SDGs with AI

    • Opportunities in Health, Education, and Poverty Reduction

  3. Creating a Sustainable Ecosystem for AI-Driven Humanitarian Efforts

    • Collaborations between AI Practitioners and Humanitarian Organizations

    • The Role of Government and International Organizations

    • Building Partnerships for AI in Humanitarian Efforts

  4. Financial and Funding Models

    • Traditional Funding in Humanitarian Work: An overview and its limitations.

    • Emerging Financial Models for AI-Humanitarian Initiatives: From impact investing to tech philanthropy.

    • Public-Private Partnerships: Merging the best of both worlds for social impact.

    • Crowdfunding and Grassroots Funding: Mobilizing the masses for tech-driven social change.

    • Economic and Social ROI: Measuring the returns on AI-humanitarian investments.

  5. Open-source Tools and Collaborative Development

    • The Power of Open-Source: Why collaborative development accelerates impact.

    • Leading Open-Source Platforms for Humanitarian AI

    • Building and Sustaining a Collaborative AI Community

  6. Infrastructure and Implementation in Resource-Limited Settings

    • Technologies for Off-Grid AI

    • Edge Computing

    • Solar-Powered Data Centers

    • Low-Power AI Chips

    • Connectivity Solutions

    • Distributed Data Centers

    • Hybrid Cloud Solutions

    • Training and Capacity Building

    • Local Tech Hubs and Innovation Centers

    • Resilience and Maintenance

  7. Challenges of Using AI in Humanitarian Work

    • Algorithmic Bias and Fairness Concerns

    • Data Privacy and Security Issues

    • Scalability and Generalization Challenges

  8. Case Studies:

    • Real-world Case Studies of Successful AI Applications

    • Lessons to be Learned from Failed Implementations

    • AI Applications in Disease Prediction

    • Improving Health Monitoring and Response

    • Addressing Health Disparities with AI

    • Tackling Educational Inequalities with AI

  9. AI for Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth

    • Identifying Areas of Extreme Poverty with AI

    • Optimizing Resource Allocation for Aid Programs

    • Developing Solutions to Address Root Causes of Poverty

  10. AI for Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability

    • AI Applications for Climate Modeling

    • Predicting and Addressing Extreme Weather Events

    • Optimizing Resource Use and Environmental Protection

  11. Ethical Considerations in AI for Humanitarian Context

    • Ethical Principles for AI in Humanitarian Work

    • Avoiding Harm and Ensuring Transparency

    • Ethical Challenges and Potential Solutions

  12. Future Trends and Considerations

    • Evolving Trends in AI and Humanitarian Work

    • Preparing for Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities

    • Nurturing a Culture of Innovation and Responsibility

  13. Conclusion and Call to Action

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another book, journal, or conference.

 

Kindly note the following when submitting your book chapter:

  • Submit an initial proposal, including the title of the chapter and the problem/purpose statement explaining the proposed chapter. The deadline for submission of the initial proposal (500-700 words) is December 1, 2023.

  • Submit your proposal through the following link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aih2024

  • The authors will be informed about the approval of the book chapter proposal before December 15, 2023.

  • The full chapter is due by March 1, 2024.

  • The length of the chapter should be 7,000-10,000 words.

  • The paper should be formatted per the template provided, and APA 7th edition style of references should be used in the chapter. The template will be sent to the authors after the acceptance of the initial proposal.

  • Ensure that the paper adheres to Taylor and Francis’s book chapter formatting guidelines.

  • Chapter Template

  • Chapter Formatting Guidelines

  • Referencing and Citation Guidelines

  • Call for Papers is also available here: https://easychair.org/cfp/aih2024

 

Feel free to email us if you have questions or want feedback on your proposed research question (narasimharaonarasimha@gmail.com).

 

You may also contact us via professional social media at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelajibesin/ 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adeyemi-Ajibesin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvajjhala/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Narasimha-Vajjhala

Important Dates

Expression of Interest            -  February 1, 2024

Draft chapter due date           -  March 1, 2024 

Peer review period                 -  March 1 – April 30, 2024

Finalized chapter due            -  May 30, 2024

Final acceptance notification -  June 10, 2024

Book publication date            -  August 2024

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