AI Tools Deliver Aid, Map Crises, and Predict Hunger

Humanitarian organizations are increasingly employing artificial intelligence to improve aid delivery and respond to crises around the world. Project AHEAD, a collaboration involving the World Food Programme and Germany’s DLR, is developing remotely operated vehicles, inspired by planetary rovers, to transport supplies through dangerous environments, removing aid workers from harm’s way.

Beyond physical delivery, AI is being used to analyze data and predict food insecurity. HungerMap Live, a platform from the WFP, tracks conditions across 95+ countries using machine learning and real-time data.

Following earthquakes in Venezuela, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team utilized AI to extract building information from satellite imagery, enabling volunteers to quickly assess damage. While manual mapping remains more accurate, speed is often critical in disaster response, and AI offers a valuable supplement. Despite progress, integrating these systems into standard emergency protocols remains a challenge for many countries.