Artificial Intelligence

Case Studies

Beam with The United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC Hamburg)

Building and Establishment Automated Mapper (BEAM) is an easy-to-use tool that allows the user to quickly detect and visualize the rooftops of buildings in a specific area by simply uploading aerial images of a given location.

Relational AI with UNITAC Hamburg

In partnership with UNITAC Hamburg, we used knowledge graphs to help analyze risks and improve the resilience of urban systems by providing cities with information on potential shocks, vulnerabilities and stresses. 

The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) employs AI technologies to support Secretariat efforts towards achieving sustainable development, delivering humanitarian assistance, augmenting crisis management efforts, and enhancing its overall effectiveness in fulfilling its mission.

Overview

Over the last decade, the explosive growth of data and artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed our world. While technologies have enabled efficiencies, there are well-documented adverse effects.

Data collection and sharing pose an ever-looming threat to our privacy. At the same time, the deploying of AI systems has given rise to bias, discrimination, loss of agency, and unfairness.

Moreover, the solutions we create to address these challenges can sometimes introduce unintended consequences.

At OICT, we acknowledge the challenges posed by the constantly evolving technological environment.

As such, we aim to leverage the expertise of an interdisciplinary team to democratize the use of emerging technologies within the Secretariat in a manner that aligns with UN values and principles.

In collaboration with Secretariat partners, we design and deploy solutions that can advance the UN mission and promote fair and inclusive development for all.

Enterprise Solutions

UNITE TADA is a collection of tools available to United Nations personnel that allows data scientists, data analysts and power users to kickstart their projects easily.

UNify uses Generative AI (pre-trained LLM) to build a cohesive response that answers questions pertaining to the UN system. The tool is currently in its early development stages and given the fast-paced nature of this field, the team anticipates unexpected challenges and changes along the way.

Capacity Building

Open to all United Nations personnel, UNITE Academy is a series of training sessions on data and analytics offered by OICT, aiming  to enhance data literacy and increasing awareness of data and analytics within the Organization.

New courses include Generative AI, which details the how's, why’s, and use cases within the UN.