In recent years, technology has significantly changed the approach to humanitarian aid. In this context, the UN introduced an experiment involving AI refugee avatars, raising important questions about empathy and representation.
AI Avatars Initiative
The United Nations University Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) launched an experiment creating two AI avatars: Amina, a refugee from Sudan, and Abdalla, a soldier in a conflict zone. The aim was to portray different aspects of humanitarian crises. As noted by Eduardo Albrecht, a professor at Columbia University, this project does not seek to become a standard for the UN system but is an exploratory attempt to understand the possibilities and limitations of AI in humanitarian assistance.
Objectives of the UN Experiment
The primary goal of the experiment was to create new ways of engaging with the public and potential donors. Interaction with avatars could help convey real refugee stories, providing personal interaction that in turn might enhance empathy and support levels among donors.
Digital Empathy Ethics and Challenges
Digital empathy through AI faces serious ethical questions. The ability to elicit sympathy for refugee issues via simulated interaction can oversimplify and distort real human stories. The use of AI to represent vulnerable groups raises questions about authenticity and the potential for substituting the true voice of those who suffer. Feedback from workshop participants indicated that many would prefer to hear real stories from refugees themselves rather than AI simulations.
The UN experiment with AI avatars is an important step in using technology to raise awareness of humanitarian issues. However, ethical norms must be considered to ensure that technologies serve as platforms for the genuine expression of human experiences.
