Hasib Ahsan, postdoctoral researcher from the IT University of Copenhagen, hosted a panel titled “AI and Society – Questions and Possibilities for the Others” at the 13th International Conference on Information & Communication Technologies and Development on December 9, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. He was joined by senior scholars from the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, and SUNY Korea. The session, attended by about 30 participants, where Hasib discussed on AI and climate change, agriculture, and food security, focusing on vulnerable communities in climate-affected areas like northern Bangladesh. Hasib’s fieldwork was part of the ERC-funded Decoupling IT project. After initial presentations, attendees were split into smaller groups led by the presenters to delve deeper into these issues, promoting active engagement and the development of localised solutions to AI challenges in developing countries.

Hasib moderated one of the group workshops on “AI and Others: Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security,” by involving participants from Rwanda, Kenya, India, Japan, Finland and Bangladesh, focused on melding traditional agricultural methods with data-driven AI amid evolving climate conditions. The dialogue addressed the need for AI tools sensitive to cultural nuances, regional climate variances, and the hurdles to tech adoption in rural zones. Solutions like digitising traditional knowledge for AI integration, developing hybrid models, and improving access with voice-driven and offline-compatible AI were discussed. The session underscored AI’s role in enhancing climate resilience and food security, highlighting the critical role of inclusivity, trust, and community participation.