Humanitarian AI taxonomy

Guides

How the definitions are written

Read the ISO-based entry method and follow the concept map.

Definitions

Humanitarian AI

application of AI systems to tasks undertaken as part of humanitarian action

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Humanitarian action

organised action that supports people and communities affected by crisis while seeking to protect life, alleviate suffering and uphold dignity

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AI system

engineered system that generates outputs such as content, forecasts, recommendations or decisions for a given set of human-defined objectives

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AI model

machine-readable representation of knowledge

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AI output

any data or information returned by the AI system when processing a given input

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Generative AI

the class of AI models that emulate the structure and characteristics of input data in order to generate derived synthetic content

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Traditional AI

informal label for established AI approaches such as rule-based AI, classification and prediction models

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Rule-based automation

software process that applies predefined rules to choose an action when specified conditions occur

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AI judgement call

context-dependent choice or interpretation made by an AI system within a task when the response is not completely specified in advance

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Justified reliance on an AI output

decision to use an AI output for a defined purpose after its relevant claims, limits and permissions have been assessed by a responsible person

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Humanitarian task

defined unit of work undertaken within humanitarian action, with an intended result and a responsible actor

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Humanitarian AI use

particular application of an AI system to a defined task in humanitarian action, with an identifiable purpose, setting and responsible actor

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AI capability

kind of processing an AI system can perform, identified by the result it produces rather than the humanitarian purpose it serves

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Humanitarian function

purpose served by a task within humanitarian action, regardless of the AI capability used to perform it

Definitions · C-PRED

Prediction

AI capability that estimates a numeric value or probability for an outcome using available information

Definitions · C-CLASS

Classification

AI capability that assigns an item to one or more predefined categories

Definitions · C-GROUP

Clustering

AI capability that groups items according to patterns of similarity without relying on a fixed set of category labels

Definitions · C-ANOM

Anomaly and change detection

AI capability that flags an unusual item or a change relative to an expected pattern

Definitions · C-EXTRACT

Perception and extraction

AI capability that identifies information in unstructured text, images, audio or video and makes it available for further use

Definitions · C-SYNTH

Synthetic data generation

AI capability that produces artificial records intended to resemble selected features of other data for a defined purpose

Definitions · H-ASSESS

Understanding needs

humanitarian function concerned with identifying needs, priorities and information gaps among people affected by crisis

Definitions · H-ANTICIPATE

Preparing for change

humanitarian function concerned with using information about possible future conditions to prepare a response

Definitions · H-PLAN

Planning a response

humanitarian function concerned with comparing courses of action and preparing resources for a proposed response

Definitions · H-DELIVER

Delivering services

humanitarian function concerned with providing or following up assistance or services for people affected by crisis

Definitions · H-SUPPLY

Moving goods and services

humanitarian function concerned with arranging the supply, routing or scheduling needed to provide assistance

Definitions · H-LEARN

Monitoring and learning

humanitarian function concerned with examining implementation, feedback and results to inform changes in a response

Definitions · H-SUPPORT

Organisational support

humanitarian function concerned with internal drafting, coordination or record preparation that supports humanitarian work

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Person affected by a humanitarian AI use

person whose rights, safety, access to assistance or experience of a humanitarian response could be influenced by a particular humanitarian AI use

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AI system permission

scope of information an AI system is authorised to access and actions it is authorised to perform in a defined humanitarian AI use

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Human review

examination by a person of an AI output or process against stated criteria before it is relied on

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Verification of an AI output

check of a consequential AI claim or output against evidence independent of that AI output

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Human approval

recorded authorisation by a person with the required authority for a specified humanitarian AI use or consequential action to proceed

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Risk assessment of a humanitarian AI use

structured examination of possible harm from a particular humanitarian AI use, its context and the capacity to prevent or respond to that harm

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Human oversight

arrangement through which responsible people can observe, challenge, intervene in or stop a humanitarian AI use during its operation

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Human fallback

arrangement for people to continue or restore a humanitarian task when an AI system cannot be used reliably

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Incident involving a humanitarian AI use

event in which a humanitarian AI use causes, contributes to or reveals a failure or potential harm requiring investigation or response

Definitions · C-GEN

Content generation and transformation

Producing new or revised text, speech, images or translations.

Definitions · C-RANK

Ranking and decision support

Putting items in order or suggesting a choice.

Definitions · H-ACCESS

Access to assistance

Registration support, referrals and assistance-related case review.

Definitions · H-COMMUNICATE

Communicating with people

Translation, information services and accessible communication.

Definitions · H-LISTEN

Feedback and remedy

Sorting feedback and supporting complaints handling.

Guides

Record a humanitarian AI task

Use an editable record to connect the task, evidence, separate assessments and human decision.

Guides

Humanitarian AI: start here

A practical route from describing an AI use to examining its consequences.

Research

How this work continues the earlier research

The connection between the humanitarian reports, DCI/GIZ work and this collection.

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Classify a humanitarian AI use

Describe capabilities, humanitarian purpose and permissions separately.

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Assess risk and record human decisions

Keep DCI and SAFE AI assessments distinct and connect them to accountable decisions.

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Connect the record to SAFE AI

Link the taxonomy to existing governance records throughout a system’s life.

Examples · C-GEN / H-COMMUNICATE

Example: translate a service notice

An invented example for testing the taxonomy and discussing human checks.

Examples · C-EXTRACT / C-CLASS / C-RANK / H-LISTEN

Example: sort incoming complaints

An invented example for testing the taxonomy and discussing human checks.