Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Humanitarianism: Fostering Social Change Through Emerging Technologies

A Volume in Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series

AI for Humanitarianism: Fostering Social Change Through Emerging Technologies will be published as a volume in the Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis.  All manuscripts will be accepted based on a double-blind peer-review editorial process. This book will be submitted for possible indexation in Scopus, Web of Science, and major indices. This book will occupy a unique space within the literature on both AI and humanitarianism. While there are texts on the applications of AI in various sectors and the role of technology in humanitarian work, there is a notable gap regarding the intersection of these two fields. This book will fill that gap by providing a comprehensive exploration of how AI can be leveraged for social impact in the context of humanitarian efforts. The book will engage with debates around the ethical implications of AI in humanitarian contexts, including data privacy, informed consent, and algorithmic bias. This book will also delve into discussions about the role of technology in addressing complex humanitarian challenges, considering issues such as the potential for tech solutions to overlook underlying socio-political problems and the importance of collaboration between tech experts and humanitarian practitioners. Overall, this book will offer an insightful and innovative exploration of the potential of AI to catalyze positive social change in the context of humanitarian efforts. This book will serve as an invaluable resource for AI professionals, humanitarian workers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the role of technology in addressing global challenges.

Note: There are NO submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication.

The research questions guiding this proposed book project include:

• How are AI technologies currently being used in humanitarian contexts, and what are the most successful applications and outcomes to date?
• What are the main challenges and obstacles that practitioners face when integrating AI into humanitarian work, and how can they be addressed?
• How can AI technologies be designed and deployed ethically in humanitarian contexts, mainly when working with vulnerable populations?
• What role do local communities and beneficiaries play in the development and deployment of AI technologies for humanitarian work, and how can their input and agency be prioritized?
• What tools, strategies, and best practices can be developed to support the effective and responsible integration of AI into humanitarian efforts?
• How does the use of AI in humanitarian work relate to broader trends and debates in AI, technology, and social impact, and what can be learned from these intersections?

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another book, journal, or conference.

Kindly note the following when submitting your book chapter:

• Submit an initial proposal, including the title of the chapter and the problem/purpose statement explaining the proposed chapter. The deadline for submission of the initial proposal (500-700 words) is December 1, 2023.

• Submit your proposal through the following link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aih2024

• The authors will be informed about the approval of the book chapter proposal before December 15, 2023.
• The full chapter is due by March 1, 2024.
• The length of the chapter should be 7,000-10,000 words.
• The paper should be formatted per the template provided, and APA style of references should be used in the chapter. The template will be sent to the authors after the acceptance of the initial proposal.
• Ensure that the paper adheres to Taylor and Francis’s book chapter formatting guidelines.

• Chapter Template

• Chapter Formatting Guidelines

Feel free to email us if you have questions or want feedback on your proposed research question (narasimharaonarasimha@gmail.com). You may also contact us via professional social media at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelajibesin/ 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adeyemi-Ajibesin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvajjhala/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Narasimha-Vajjhala

https://www.narasimharao.net/ 

Important Dates

List of Topics

The scope of this book is illustrated through the following topics (but are not limited to the following ones): 

• Relevance of AI in Humanitarian Contexts
• Potential of AI for Social Impact
  • Addressing the SDGs with AI
  • Opportunities in Health, Education, and Poverty Reduction
• Creating a Sustainable Ecosystem for AI-Driven Humanitarian Efforts
  • Collaborations between AI Practitioners and Humanitarian Organizations
  • The Role of Government and International Organizations
  • Building Partnerships for AI in Humanitarian Efforts
• Financial and Funding Models
  • Traditional Funding in Humanitarian Work: An overview and its limitations.
  • Emerging Financial Models for AI-Humanitarian Initiatives: From impact investing to tech philanthropy.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Merging the best of both worlds for social impact.
  • Crowdfunding and Grassroots Funding: Mobilizing the masses for tech-driven social change.
  • Economic and Social ROI: Measuring the returns on AI-humanitarian investments.
• Open-source Tools and Collaborative Development
  • The Power of Open-Source: Why collaborative development accelerates impact.
  • Leading Open-Source Platforms for Humanitarian AI
  • Building and Sustaining a Collaborative AI Community
• Infrastructure and Implementation in Resource-Limited Settings
  • Technologies for Off-Grid AI
  • Edge Computing
  • Solar-Powered Data Centers
  • Low-Power AI Chips
  • Connectivity Solutions
  • Distributed Data Centers
  • Hybrid Cloud Solutions
  • Training and Capacity Building
  • Local Tech Hubs and Innovation Centers
  • Resilience and Maintenance
• Challenges of Using AI in Humanitarian Work
  • Algorithmic Bias and Fairness Concerns
  • Data Privacy and Security Issues
  • Scalability and Generalization Challenges
• Case Studies:
  • Real-world Case Studies of Successful AI Applications
  • Lessons to be Learned from Failed Implementations
  • AI Applications in Disease Prediction
  • Improving Health Monitoring and Response
  • Addressing Health Disparities with AI
  • Tackling Educational Inequalities with AI
• AI for Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth
  • Identifying Areas of Extreme Poverty with AI
  • Optimizing Resource Allocation for Aid Programs
  • Developing Solutions to Address Root Causes of Poverty
• AI for Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability
  • AI Applications for Climate Modeling
  • Predicting and Addressing Extreme Weather Events
  • Optimizing Resource Use and Environmental Protection
• Ethical Considerations in AI for Humanitarian Contexts
  • Ethical Principles for AI in Humanitarian Work
  • Avoiding Harm and Ensuring Transparency
  • Ethical Challenges and Potential Solutions
• Future Trends and Considerations
  • Evolving Trends in AI and Humanitarian Work
  • Preparing for Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities
  • Nurturing a Culture of Innovation and Responsibility
• Conclusion and Call to Action

Editors

Assoc. Prof. Abel Adeyimi Ajibesin

Chair, Software Engineering Department,

School of IT and Computing,

American University of Nigeria

Yola, Nigeria.

Assoc. Prof. Narasimha Rao Vajjhala

Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

University of New York Tirana,

Tirana, Albania.

Publication

This book is scheduled to be published will be published as a volume in the Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://taylorandfrancis.com/. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2024.   All manuscripts will be accepted based on a double-blind peer-review editorial process. This book will be submitted for possible indexation in Scopus, Web of Science, and major indices.

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to:

Assoc. Prof. Abel Ajibesin

abel.ajibesin@aun.edu.ng 

Assoc. Prof. Narasimha Rao Vajjhala

narasimharaonarasimha@gmail.com