Reimagining the direction of humanitarian power through mechanisms, not production.

Coming early February 2026

Status: pre-research, conceptual working paper.

Date February 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded in humanitarian organisations and the potential is there to become embedded within the architecture of the wider system.

Much of the current humanitarian AI discourse frames tools adapted by AI, or emerging AI potential, positions them solely as products aimed at efficiency, or as products to be piloted and scaled.

This working paper proposes a different framing: AI should be understood as power infrastructure.

As AI becomes woven into the operational mechanisms of humanitarian response, planning and coordination; it will either strengthen locally led agency or reinforce layers of dependancy, exclusion and control.

This paper outlines an emerging research agenda exploring the conditions under which AI can function as a mechanism for humanitarian power shift, rather than power exctractivisim, and argues for a locally led governance approach that centres local agency over the humanitarian infrastructures AI is beginning to reshape.

Introduction

Humanitarian AI is here to stay.

Across the sector, practitioners are already using AI systems in everyday workflows - from drafting, analysis, communicating, verifying information, coordination support, and decision making.

As these systems become institutionalised, the question is no longer simply whether AI will be adopted.