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Aug 21, 2025
On August 21, ASI Global held the August session of its LUMINAI Lecture Series, featuring Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, who delivered an online talk titled “AI for Humanitarian Action: Innovation in Crisis Response”. Addressing Chinese university students and scholars interested in international affairs, Mr. Hochschild explored how artificial intelligence is transforming humanitarian action, emphasizing both the vast opportunities and the significant risks that AI brings to crisis response. Drawing on his decades of experience with the United Nations and in global humanitarian operations, he offered a clear and structured discussion that combined historical reflection, real-world applications, and forward-looking perspectives.
Lecture Topic: AI for Humanitarian Action: Innovation in Crisis Response
The Foundations of Humanitarian Action
Mr. Hochschild began by defining humanitarian action through the words of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: the effort to protect life, health, and dignity, and to relieve suffering wherever it is found. At its core, he noted, “humanitarian action is guided by four enduring principles—humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence—which together ensure that aid is provided solely on the basis of need, without political or ideological influence.” This moral impulse, he noted, is universal and deeply rooted in human civilization, though it became institutionalized with Henri Dunant’s founding of the ICRC in 1863 and later evolved through the UN’s humanitarian agencies.
Definition of humanitarian action
The Current Humanitarian Crisis
Hochschild observed that the humanitarian system is facing what he called an “unprecedented crisis”. Global conflicts and natural disasters have displaced millions, and nearly 300 million people now depend on humanitarian assistance. Yet funding and resources are shrinking, forcing many organizations to scale back their operations. This growing imbalance between need and capacity, he noted, is pushing the humanitarian community to rethink how it works. In this context, AI has become both a necessity and an opportunity. It’s a means to anticipate crises, allocate aid efficiently, and reach those most in need.
Current humanitarian crisis
How AI Transforms Humanitarian Work
Mr. Hochschild outlined four major areas where AI is already reshaping humanitarian practice: (1) early warning, (2) decision-making and delivery, (3) communication and information management, and (4) administrative efficiency.
In early warning, AI enables faster and more accurate crisis prediction by analyzing vast datasets—from satellite imagery to meteorological and economic indicators—to anticipate floods, droughts, or population displacement. These predictive tools allow humanitarian agencies to act before disasters escalate, saving lives and reducing losses.
AI used for early warning
AI also strengthens decision-making and operational delivery once crises unfold. Technologies such as satellite analysis, drone mapping, and AI-assisted diagnostics help identify needs, assess damage, and provide medical support even in remote areas. Autonomous vehicles and optimized supply chains improve the safety and speed of aid delivery, while biometric systems help ensure assistance reaches those most in need.
Application of AI in disaster assessment
Equally important, AI is transforming how organizations process and share information. Natural language processing allows agencies to manage large volumes of data and reporting, while multilingual chatbots and translation tools enhance communication with affected populations. These technologies not only improve coordination but also give communities better access to life-saving information.
AI empowering communication and information management
Finally, Hochschild noted that large language models are beginning to ease the administrative burden of humanitarian work by automating tasks such as drafting project proposals and donor reports—freeing professionals to focus more on direct field engagement.
AI supporting administrative work
Ethical and Operational Challenges
Despite these benefits, Hochschild warned that AI introduces serious ethical and operational risks. Biased or incomplete data can misinform decisions, while privacy concerns remain acute when handling refugees’ personal information. “Overreliance on automation”, he cautioned, “may erode the empathy and accountability central to humanitarian work”. Moreover, AI’s misuse in spreading disinformation and fueling conflict highlights the urgent need for ethical governance, transparency, and human oversight.
Challenges and risks faced by AI applications in humanitarian actions
In the closing Q&A session, Mr. Hochschild reflected on how humanitarian organizations can responsibly adopt AI and how young people can prepare for its growing influence. He stressed that while different agencies take different technical approaches, what matters most is maintaining ethical integrity and data protection. For future professionals, he highlighted AI literacy, the ability to recognize both potential and risk, and reaffirmed that all innovation in this field must uphold the humanitarian principle of “Do No Harm”.
Through his lecture, Mr. Hochschild offered a timely reminder that while technology can amplify humanitarian impact, it must remain guided by the values of compassion, neutrality, and human dignity. As the humanitarian community navigates an age of rapid technological change, his message was clear: AI should enhance, not replace, the humanity at the heart of humanitarian action.