UN Creates AI Refugee Avatar - Innovation in Humanitarian Aid

AI Avatars Created to Educate on Refugee Experiences

An institute affiliated with the United Nations has developed a pair of AI-driven avatars with the purpose of raising awareness regarding refugee situations.

The UNU-CPR Experiment

Amina and Abdalla, the two AI agents, were the result of an experiment undertaken by students at the United Nations University Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), as reported by 404 Media.

Amina is portrayed as a fictional woman who was forced to flee Sudan and currently resides in a refugee camp located in Chad.

Abdalla, conversely, is depicted as a fictional member of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organization operating within Sudan.

Interactive Platform and Initial Challenges

The intention is for users to engage in conversations with both Amina and Abdalla through the experiment’s dedicated website.

However, access was temporarily unavailable when a registration attempt was made on Saturday afternoon, resulting in an error message.

Purpose and Limitations

According to Eduardo Albrecht, a professor at Columbia University and a senior fellow at the UNU-CPR, the project was primarily exploratory.

He clarified that the work was undertaken as a conceptual exercise and not presented as a formal proposal for implementation by the UN.

Potential Applications and User Feedback

A research paper detailing the project suggested a potential future use for these avatars: to efficiently present compelling arguments to potential donors.

Despite this, the paper also acknowledged negative reactions from participants in workshops who interacted with the AI agents.

Some attendees expressed the view that refugees possess the ability to articulate their own experiences directly, rendering the avatars unnecessary.

Key Takeaways

• The avatars aim to simulate interactions with individuals affected by conflict and displacement.
• The project is currently experimental and not an official UN initiative.
• User feedback highlights the importance of direct representation by refugees themselves.