AI's Role in Enhancing Humanitarian Efforts for Children in Armed Conflict

Abstract

This chapter examines the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting children and youth affected by armed conflicts, focusing on the integration of AI with humanitarian aid and child psychology. While AI is predominantly recognized for its capability in logistical and analytical tasks, we highlight its potential to address the emotional and psychological needs of vulnerable populations in armed conflict. By employing an interdisciplinary approach, the study bridges the gaps between technology, psychological support, and humanitarian efforts. The discussion extends into the ethical dimensions of AI application in conflict environments, emphasizing the importance of developing international regulations and standards that ensure responsible technology use. AI has the potential to enhance traditional humanitarian operations and innovate the means of delivering emotional and psychological support to affected children. AI-driven tools, such as empathetic computing and Natural Language Processing, can amplify the voices of young individuals, facilitating better understanding and support by capturing and analyzing their experiences and emotional states. By influencing policymakers, technologists, and humanitarian workers, there is scope for thoughtful development and deployment of AI technologies to improve the resilience and recovery of children in conflict spaces to ensure their psychological well-being and emotional safety.

Citation

Shah, T.M. and Shah, J.M. (2024), "AI's Role in Enhancing Humanitarian Efforts for Children in Armed Conflict", Shah, T.M. (Ed.) Children and Youth as ‘Sites of Resistance’ in Armed Conflict (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Vol. 34), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 145-155. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1537-466120240000034009