The MERL Tech Initiative is pleased to launch our publication, “Made In Africa Artificial Intelligence Approaches In Monitoring, Evaluation, Research And Learning: A Practitioner Perspective And Landscape Study”, authored by Varaidzo Faith Magodo-Matimba. merltech.org/africa-ai-me...

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe? Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe? Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

📢 We are hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join us on October 30 and November 06 for a hands-on, 2-day workshop led by experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén. merltech.org/small-is-bea...

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree. Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

The NLP-CoP is hosting an event on August 21 to discuss how these AI directives may affect our work and what opportunities exist for advocates to raise concerns and fight for an approach to AI that is ethical and rooted in public well-being and sustainability. merltech.org/event-what-d...

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree. Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

Current concerns about AI’s adverse climate impacts are largely confined to operational energy and water use by data centers. While these impacts are important, they represent only a fraction of the ways in which AI can influence climate outcomes, write Felippa Amanta and Charlie Wilson.

August will be a busy month at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice! 🧵https://merltech.org/events/

We're launching our AI and Climate Working Group on July 17 at 10 am ET! Join us if you’d like to hear about and help shape our plans for the rest of the year, as well as discuss all the ways how climate and AI intersect. merltech.org/join-us-on-j...

What can we learn from emerging evidence of GenAI use in Social and Behaviour Change chatbots? Our NLP-CoP brought together 6 organisations all using GenAI to deploy and evaluate SBC interventions. Here's what we've learned: merltech.org/what-can-we-...

How are qualitative researchers navigating the use of AI tools by research participants? This month, the Ethics and Governance Working Group (EGWG) at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP) is discussing the use of AI by research respondents. merltech.org/qualitative-...

Technosolutionism, magical fixes, and lack of oversight: As one of our speakers noted during our event, “People in leadership positions are moving fast and breaking things, but when we’re talking about people’s lives, that isn’t a good thing.” merltech.org/event-recap-...

🧵This week at The MERL Tech Initiative, we published a bunch of new resources! 👇

📣 The MERL Tech Initiative offers trainings for orgs/individuals interested in responsible, ethical, realistic design, use, and governance of digital tech and digital data. Our trainings are designed based on decades of experience in MERL + critical approaches to tech. merltech.org/trainings/

We just released a new AI Vendor Assessment Tool designed for folks in the international development, humanitarian, and social impact sectors who need to assess AI vendors but don't have specialized knowledge in AI systems. Check it out and give us some feedback! merltech.org/new-resource...

On March 12, we hosted a webinar with Gerard Atkinson, who shared his research comparing various language models on standard evaluation tasks, such as qualitative text analysis and the use of rubrics to assess documents. In case you missed it, here's an event recap: merltech.org/event-recap-...

The MERL Tech Initiative developed guidelines to support Girl Effect's work on AI-powered Sexual and Reproductive Health chatbots. We are happy to share this comprehensive, accessible set of guidelines to support development of social and behaviour change chatbots: merltech.org/girl-effect-...

📖New book review on our website: “'Technocolonialism' offers a mirror for humanitarian actions of the past, as well as a forward-looking litmus test for a more reflexive humanitarian practice.” merltech.org/reviewing-mi...

📣 We’re thrilled to welcome Varaidzo Matimba to the role of AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP, thanks to The Hewlett Foundation and its support for our AI+African MERL Working Group. Learn more about Vari and the work she'll be doing here: merltech.org/welcoming-ou...

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧? 🔎 A new guide by @merltech.bsky.social & the SVRI explores the potential applications and risks of using #GenAI to support research on violence against women. ➡️ Access the guide: lnkd.in/dmKmrJa6

📣 New guide for those thinking about using GenAI in research on violence against women. We partnered with @thesvri.bsky.social to lay out big picture, structural, and ethics questions that researchers should ask before using GenAI for violence against women research. merltech.org/new-guide-ke...

We hosted a panel at #RightsCon to discuss the state of M&E of humanitarian AI and the kinds of M&E frameworks necessary to ensure the sector can effectively assess AI tools. Key takeaways from the convo here: merltech.org/rightscon-re...

📢 Attending CSW in NY? Join us on March 17, 4 pm! We're partnering with CNN As Equals for an event on the role of media in raising awareness and changing perspectives around online violence. merltech.org/events/tech-...

📖 We just published a new paper by Dr. Savita Bailur and Medhavi Hassija examining how GenAI impacts women’s participation in key areas and highlighting the urgent need to address biases, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and digital divides. Read now: merltech.org/why-gender-i...

Earlier this month our NLP-CoP hosted @madianou.bsky.social (Professor and Co-Director of the Migrant Futures Institute at Goldsmiths, University of London) to discuss her new book “Technocolonialism: When Technology for Good is Harmful.” Here are some of the key takeaways from the event (1/5)🧵

📢 Join us next week at RightsCon: We're hosting/participating in a few online sessions. Learn how you can participate below: merltech.org/meet-us-virt...

📆Last week to apply: We're hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for our NLP-CoP and the deadline is Feb 17! More details about the position here: merltech.org/jobs/ai-afri...

📣We're hiring: The MERL Tech Initiative is looking for a part-time (60%) AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. merltech.org/were-hiring-...

Look forward to this conversation with Quito Tsui and @merltech.bsky.social about my new book, 'Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful'. 11 February 3pm GMT (online), details below:

📢 Next week: We're honored to be joined by Mophat Okinyi (Techworker Community Africa), Oğuz Alyanak (Fairwork), Maria Mukobi and Kriti Bajpai, and Soma Mitra-Behura (Girl Effect) for a conversation about data workers' labour conditions and what we can do to support. merltech.org/humans-in-th...

Join us on Feb 11th for a NLP-CoP members-only event with @madianou.bsky.social . More info on the event and on becoming an NLP-CoP member (both are free) at the link -> merltech.org/humanitarian...

📢 Next week: We're honored to be joined by Mophat Okinyi (Techworker Community Africa), Oğuz Alyanak (Fairwork), Maria Mukobi and Kriti Bajpai, and Soma Mitra-Behura (Girl Effect) for a conversation about data workers' labour conditions and what we can do to support. merltech.org/humans-in-th...

📣We're hiring: The MERL Tech Initiative is looking for a part-time (60%) AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. merltech.org/were-hiring-...

📢 Funding opportunity: Our friends at the Safety Showcase have an open call for tech products that ground gender equality and inclusion to prevent and respond to tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Deadline is Feb 3. More info here: www.tfgbvsafetyshowcase.org/post/safety-...

How can civil society prepare for the changes wreaked by the influence of Big Tech and the incoming administration? Read this recap by @meowtree.bsky.social of @merltech.bsky.social of last month's TechSalon in NYC for some ideas. merltech.org/the-influenc...

We want to build a "MERL Tech" starter pack. Who should we include? Nominate folks working at the intersection of research, insights, monitoring, measurement, evaluation, strategy, learning, impact, information/knowledge management, data responsibility, ICT4D, tech, NLP and GenAI (etc)

Join the New York City Technology Salon for an in-person conversation on Big Tech's growing role in the incoming administration and what that might mean in the US and globally. mailchi.mp/technologysa...

Can humanitarians safely use AI for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) processes? Quito Tsui recaps our Nov 7th Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group meeting. merltech.org/humanitarian...

Observations from the recent Deep Learning Indaba in Dakar. www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/11/1...

Where are we today with with GenAI for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning? Where are we going in 2025? Some thoughts from The MERL Tech Initiative's @meowtree.bsky.social . merltech.org/its-the-end-...

Should we use AI to do research on gender based violence and violence against children? Here's what participants at the Nov 14 Tech Salon think. merltech.org/the-gbv-and-...