Tech Salon NYC: Ethical Parameters for AI in LMICs
Curated by Linda Raftree, MERL Tech Initiative
Technology Salon — UN Week Edition
Generative AI is reshaping how we work — but in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), it also raises profound ethical questions.
When should AI be used? With whom? And why?
Who benefits, who’s left out — and what happens when things go wrong?
Join Linda Raftree of the MERL Tech Initiative for a candid, high-energy, and off-the-record Salon-style discussion about the ethics of AI in global development contexts, particularly when engaging with marginalized communities.
Format:
This is not a panel — it’s an interactive 90-minute conversation built for critical thinking, honest dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.
We’ll explore:
What ethical guardrails are essential — and who sets them
How AI can reinforce or challenge structural inequities
Where ethical frameworks fall short, and what we can do about it
Key Lead Discussants:
You’ll hear from four thought leaders — including representatives from leading donor agencies, impact-driven tech firms, and AI design teams — to kickstart the conversation.
Participation is the point:
With ~30 people in the room — funders, technologists, policymakers, implementers — you’ll be part of a conversation that’s small enough for everyone to speak, yet diverse enough to expand your thinking.
Whether you're building AI tools, funding them, or just trying to figure out where you stand, this is the room where the real ethical questions get unpacked.