Goals and Objectives of the Workshop
In this roundtable workshop, we invited social impact leaders and subject experts to delve into the topic of leveraging AI to create social impact in Hong Kong. Using real-life examples from the work of Migrasia, Purpose Impact Action, and Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), the panelists shared their insights on the risks, benefits, and limitations when it comes to using AI for social impact work, as well as adopting a human-centric approach to responsible AI application.
Looking to the near future, the panelists reminded us of the importance of ethical benchmarks and guardrails, training and upskilling, and building a better world with AI, including addressing the digital divide.
Following the panel discussion, participants engaged in roundtable discussions with cross-sector professionals on the effective ways to use AI to create and communicate social impact.
Outcome of the Workshop
The workshop was attended by 37 individuals.
Participants in the workshop reflected a diversity in age, culture, gender, industry, and expertise. This enabled effective, cross-sector knowledge exchange and relationship building in the roundtable discussion session. FSI staff and impact leaders were strategically placed at each table to inform the roundtable discussions and the broader audience in the sharing session.
Participants seem to have found the panel discussion informative and instrumental to leveraging AI to accelerate social impact and effective philanthropy in Hong Kong, with all 16 post-session survey respondents choosing “Strongly Agree”, “Agree” or “Somewhat Agree” to the question, “Did you gain useful insights and information about leveraging AI to create social impact?” All 16 respondents chose either “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” to the question, “Did the workshop give you new knowledge and skills that you can bring back to your profession?” All 16 respondents said the workshop met their expectations, if not exceeding expectations.
Below are some takeaways from the respondents:
- “Be intentional with the purpose of using AI! Know the outcome you want to create in order to explore how to use AI tools to ahcieve goals!”
- “AI can create the future we want. AI can increase the ‘human’ in social impact work, by delegating it to take over busy admin work.”
- “Complicated problem to solve – unlocking AI for good but at the same time being aware of the unintended consequences.”