AI has the potential to transform our lives. It is a general purpose technology that spans sectors, and is widely accessible—in reach of anyone with a smartphone—and is constantly improving.
But as the AI technical revolution unfolds and AI makes its way into many more social programs, there is very little rigorous evidence on where and how AI can have an impact on social outcomes. Without such evidence, companies, social innovators, and regulators lack the information to maximize the benefits of AI while protecting against its downsides.
With support from Google.org, Partnership for AI Evidence provides an unparalleled opportunity to rigorously study how these technologies can help—or harm—the well-being of people, particularly people who experience poverty. This is especially important given the speed, scale, and potential reach of many of the applications being rolled out. As AI begins to be employed across the social sector, randomized evaluations of AI applications will help us understand the most effective and least harmful approaches.
Through the partnership, researchers across J-PAL’s network work with nonprofit organizations worldwide. Partnership for AI Evidence will also collaborate with Schmidt Sciences to study the impacts of generative AI in the workplace, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries.
Partnership for AI Evidence will work with researchers, policy partners, and AI solution developers to:
While we are interested in AI's application in every sector, we anticipate that a lot of innovations will initially come from sectors that are seeing rapid AI adoption and/or likely to be most affected by AI, including education, health, labor markets, climate, and financial inclusion.
Sam Carter, Senior AI Policy Manager, J-PAL Global
Jack Cavanagh, Research Manager, J-PAL Global
Michael Hou, Senior Policy Associate, J-PAL Global
Aditi Namdeo, Director, Strategic Initiatives, J-PAL South Asia
We are hiring a Senior AI Policy Associate to be a part of our Partnership for AI Evidence team and J-PAL's exceptional and collaborative worldwide community. This position will be based out of Cambridge, MA, US. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Does this sound like a good fit for you or someone you know? Please submit your application or share the position with your network.
In the Stanford Social Innovation Review, J-PAL's Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director, and Michael Hou, Senior Policy Associate, discuss five paths with the highest potential for AI to increase program effectiveness, and how rigorous impact evaluations can help maximize AI's benefits while mitigating its risks. Read more »
Iqbal Dhaliwal discusses AI in the social sector at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos.
A panel discussion on “AI: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities” at J-PAL’s 20th anniversary event at MIT in 2023 brought together thought leaders to discuss the likely impacts of evolving AI technology on social and economic issues including productivity, growth, and labor markets.
Panelists included David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics, MIT; Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director, J-PAL; Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director, IMF; Brigitte Hoyer-Gosselink, Director of Product Impact, Google.org; and S. Krishnan, Secretary, India Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
J-PAL signs its first dedicated AI MoU in Hyderabad, becoming the research and evaluation partner for the Government of Telangana's AI work. On stage, Iqbal Dhaliwal and Aditi Namdeo greet dignitaries of the Government of Telangana.
Iqbal Dhaliwal joined a panel at the Mastercard Impact Data Summit 2024 on "Pioneering inclusive AI: Expanding the field of impact data and AI" in September 2024. The panel discussed the critical roles of AI and data in driving social impact.
