The Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) and Data Friendly Space (DFS) present this joint report on current usage and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the humanitarian sector.
Drawing on insights from 2,539 survey respondents across 144 countries and territories, this exploratory research represents the first comprehensive baseline study of AI adoption across the humanitarian sector, capturing a timely snapshot of how AI is currently being used, understood, and experienced by practitioners worldwide.
AI usage in the humanitarian sector is global: 93% of respondents report using or having used AI tools, with 70% integrating them into daily or weekly workflows.
Yet, despite this global uptake of AI tools, humanitarian attitudes toward AI effectiveness are mixed. Less than half of respondents agree that AI has improved operational efficiency, while only 38% believe it has led to better decision-making. Nearly 30% remain neutral or uncertain about AI's benefits, suggesting usage is driven more by accessibility and necessity than conviction.
Compounding this complexity, organizations appear to lack the infrastructure, policies, and training programs necessary to support responsible scaling. Only 8% of respondents report AI as widely integrated in their organizations, while just 22% have formal organizational AI policies in place.
This pattern, which we term the 'humanitarian AI paradox,' emerged from the tensions and contradictions voiced by practitioners themselves and describes the disconnect between widespread individual AI adoption and organizational readiness, compounded by mixed individual attitudes about AI's effectiveness.
