PROSPECTS podcast series - Episode 4

Harnessing artificial intelligence for refugee empowerment

The fourth episode of the podcast series focuses on the potential of AI-related employment opportunities in promoting the economic inclusion of conflict-affected communities.

25 April 2024

AI innovation presents both challenges and opportunities in the job market, paving the way for new business models. Hester Gartrell, Chief Impact Officer and Interim Director for Humans in the Loop, offers insights on the potential of AI to expand work opportunities for young people in displacement contexts, and how their social enterprise combines upskilling programmes with paid annotation work. Gartrell also shares the added value of local partnerships in overcoming barriers to digital and financial access in fragile settings.

Transcript: Harnessing artificial intelligence for refugee empowerment - PDF 128.18 KB

Speaker

Hester Gartrell

Chief Impact Officer and interim Director at Humans in the Loop Foundation

Hester Gartrell is Chief Impact Officer and interim Director at Humans in the Loop Foundation, an award winning Social Enterprise focusing on providing digital upskilling and remote work to people affected by conflict. As Chief Impact Officer, Hester oversees all of the HITL Foundation's digital training programmes and pilot work projects which offer a unique stepping stone for people affected by conflict to access the global digital economy and the world of AI. In previous roles, Hester has worked with universities and NGOs to create programmes which aim to empower marginalised groups through education and community engagement including at The Children's Society and Birkbeck, University of London. She also has a MSc in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on children's rights in Islam.