Shaping a Better AI Future: Power, Imagination, and Social Impact

​Event Description

AI is already reshaping how decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how power flows across societies. Yet much of the conversation in the social sector remains narrowly focused on tools: how to use AI more efficiently, or how to mitigate its risks.

This session pushes further. What would it take for civil society, philanthropy, and communities to actively shape what a good AI future looks like, not just respond to what is being built?

We will explore both the practical and the structural dimensions of AI in social impact, from how organizations can meaningfully adopt AI in their work, to how funding, governance, and data systems influence who benefits and who is left out. Particular attention will be given to equity, data ownership, and the role of local actors in shaping AI systems, especially in low-resource settings and across the Global South.

The conversation will also challenge the sector to be more ambitious. If AI is a transformative force, what does it mean to design systems that genuinely empower communities, strengthen accountability, and expand opportunity rather than reinforce existing inequalities?

Bringing together practitioners, technologists, and funders, this session will focus on moving from reactive adoption to intentional design of AI for a more just and inclusive future.

Speakers

• ​Adam Fifield is CTO of Guide to Good, leading data and AI-driven solutions that have supported over $150M in aid delivery.

• ​Chris Proulx is Co-CEO of Humentum, strengthening the capacity of thousands of humanitarian and development organizations globally.

• ​Rosie Emerson is Principal Investigator at Laterite, leading research and evaluation across development programs.

• ​Scott Hale is Associate Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute and Director of Research at Meedan, focusing on access to and use of online information.

​Discussion Questions
What does a positive, equitable AI future actually look like, and who gets to define it?
How can civil society and philanthropy shape AI systems rather than just adapt to them?
What are the real barriers to adopting AI responsibly in social impact organizations?
How do we ensure AI strengthens, rather than undermines, equity, accountability, and community power?