Last week, DIVERSIFAIR had the opportunity to participate in the AI Action Summit (10-11 February), and we are grateful to have been part of it.

As one of the 50 innovative projects selected by the Paris Peace Forum, we were surrounded by inspiring initiatives that demonstrated how AI can be developed ethically and inclusively. From projects tackling misinformation to AI-driven disaster response solutions, the range of ideas showcased the potential for AI to create meaningful, positive change.

The Space for Solutions: a valuable platform for discussion 

One of the highlights for us was the Space for Solutions, organised as part of the Paris Peace Forum. This dedicated space created an environment for meaningful exchanges in parallel to the broader discussions at the AI Action Summit. It was a great opportunity to engage directly with other organisations and explore how AI can be developed in ways that prioritise inclusivity and fairness.

Representing our eight-partner consortium, we presented our mission to develop and share educational resources that promote inclusive AI, ensuring marginalised voices are at the centre of AI development.

Among the many impressive projects at the Summit, a few particularly resonated with our vision that AI can be used for global equity:

• Coders Beyond Borders – Factstream AI Factstream AI simplifies, translates, and interprets complex legal and political texts into multiple languages, making them accessible to refugees, newcomers, and expats. It empowers individuals with the knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, supports civic engagement, and provides digital literacy training to combat misinformation. For more information: https://codersbeyondborders.org/ 
• La Fondation Hirondelle – Countering Disinformation with AI. This project uses natural language processing (NLP) to monitor community radio stations in Eastern DRC, detecting and countering hate speech by producing and broadcasting neutralising content. The goal is to combat misinformation, foster social cohesion, and support vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions. Find out more at  https://www.hirondelle.org/fr/ 
• Humanitarian OpenStreetMap – AI & Maps for Disaster Response In many of the world’s most vulnerable places, accurate maps don’t exist. This project makes open mapping technology accessible to local communities, allowing them to create AI-assisted maps to improve disaster response and preparedness. By training AI models on locally relevant data, the project ensures bias is minimised while increasing resilience to natural hazards.  Find out more https://www.hotosm.org/tech-suite/fair/ 

We see real value in spaces like these that foster open and constructive dialogue. They allow for more nuanced conversations on the role of AI and provide an opportunity to connect with those actively working towards ethical and equitable AI systems.

There were many other remarkable projects that we did not have the time to explore fully. You can explore all selected projects on the Paris Peace Forum website.

Engaging discussions & meaningful connections

Over the two days, we engaged with policymakers, NGOs, and industry leaders, including Mr Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships.

At the “Participatory AI Research & Practice Symposium”, organised as a side-event, Gemma Galdon Clavell, PhD, and Yung-Hsuan Wu from Eticas.ai explored themes of participation, power, and resistance in AI.

At the Summit workshop “A Call to Rethink AI: Why Women and Human Rights Matter Now More than Ever”, the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse called for gender to be an integral part of the AI Action Summit 2025. The statement emphasised that: 

“While AI presents new opportunities to advance the human rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals, it also introduces significant challenges—amplifying existing biases and inequalities. Ethical AI development must apply a human rights-based approach, with gender equality at its core.”

Among the speakers was Dr Alessandra Sala, co-chair of Women4Ethical AI at UNESCO and President of Women in AI.

Looking ahead

The feedback we received was invaluable in shaping our next steps. The conversations we had over these two days reinforced the importance of collaboration in making AI truly inclusive. We look forward to continuing these discussions and building on the insights gained at the Summit.

For those interested in the key takeaways from the AI Action Summit, you can find the official conclusions here.

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