AI Fun Fest at UNDP Bangladesh: Shaping the Future, One Innovation at a Time

By Sarah Ahsin, Programme Officer, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Bangladesh ,Sarah Sabin Khan, Head of Solution Mapping, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Bangladesh,Iffat Anjum, Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Bangladesh

Close your eyes and go back to when you were 10 years old. What movie blew your mind away? Terminator, E.T., Star Wars? Science fiction movies once showed us how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could transform society. Today, we see this evolution unfolding in real time. And when your workplace organizes a whole fun festival around AI, it is a clear sign that this transformation is now right at our doorstep!

As we walked into the AI Fun Fest in UNDP Bangladesh on 31 October, the excitement was buzzing in the air. The theme "Explore Tomorrow, Today!" set the stage for a day filled with innovation and creativity, where participants were amused viewers and active contributors to a vision of a future shaped by AI, gamified experiences, assistive robots, complex data-handling portable IoT devices and thought-provoking discussions. Every moment was designed to inspire and ignite our imaginations. But amongst all the bling, one could not help but wonder "How can we harness this powerful technology ethically and consciously, to create sustainable impact in our communities and beyond?"

How it all started

Integrating AI into UNDP's work aligns closely with our Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and our broader digital strategy. The Strategic Plan 2022-2025 envisions using integrated approaches, including AI, for transformative change towards the SDGs. UNDP promotes ethical, transparent, and sustainable use of AI technologies whilst upholding human rights, and build strong local AI communities that promote dignity, equality, and justice through responsible use of AI.

We actively contribute to global AI and digital conversations, demonstrating our commitment to shaping the future of technology. We play a pivotal role in influential initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact and the Secretary-General's High Level Advisory Body on AI. Additionally, UNDP engages with the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on AI and collaborates closely with the G7 on AI initiatives, solidifying our position as a key player in the field.

The UNDP Accelerator Labs have been among the forerunners within the organization to continuously learn about AI and incorporate the lessons into their core activities and strategies. The Labs are applying AI in various development contexts, such as analyzing earth observation data for crop disease detection, waste management, and land use mapping in multiple countries tackling air pollution. This work exemplifies a forward-thinking strategy that prioritizes ethical and sustainable practices while empowering local communities.

At the Bangladesh Country Office (CO), we started with a simple goal: to explore how AI can be harnessed as a tool to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of our work while ensuring ethical, transparent, and sustainable practices. The masterminds behind the AI Fun Fest - a collaborative team of colleagues from across the CO - did not design the event for random fun only to be forgotten later. Every component was meticulously planned to inspire participants and evoke their imagination about how AI can reshape our reality in addressing development challenges.

Connecting the dots: AI Fun Fest and Sustainable Development

The AI fun-fest kicked-off with a 'Walk into the Future' exhibition, where young innovators showcased their AI prototypes, offering the audience an immersive experience and emphasizing that the future is not something we merely anticipate, but something we actively shape.

AI-avatars were co-hosts alongside our Deputy Resident Representative, Sonali Dayaratne for the welcome. Her opening remarks, brought a thoughtful tone to the discussion, setting the stage with clarity,

"Whilst acknowledging the potential of AI, as development practitioners, we also need to be very aware of the risks and ethical considerations around the use of it."

The demo session on AI tools that followed effectively addressed the pain points faced by our colleagues in their functional roles and introduced easy-to-use, intuitive AI tools that simplify tasks.

The panel discussion on "Harnessing AI for Sustainable Development" reminded us that as we innovate, we must ensure that our approaches are ethical and inclusive. Age-old questions like "Will AI make me lose my job?" were answered by balanced perspectives, highlighting the growing need to adapt to and embrace AI.

The event ended with words of wisdom and hope from Alexandru Oprunenco, Regional Innovation Advisor from the UNDP in Asia and the Pacific:

"Human beings will not lose relevance as long as we keep learning and stay one step ahead of AI to be able to shape its direction."

The fest ended by giving participants much to reflect on while keeping their excitement alive for what lies ahead.

So... What's Next?

As any Michelin-star rated dish has a comprehensive recipe for the process, UNDP AI team also has thought of a meticulous approach to making our dreams of having the most AI-savvy office a reality .

Shapeshifting to an enthusiastic MasterChef now, here goes the recipe of an AI-savvy office on a plate

Step 1: An Aromatic Base:

Just as the base of any dish is key, we started by assembling as a dedicated AI teamto lead our transformation journey.

Step 2: The Magic Masala:

Our magic masala for the recipe is the UN core values:Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, Professionalism, Mutual Respect, Results Orientation.
The AI team will assess ethical implications and necessary frameworks for responsible AI use, ensuring that even if we use AI, we reflect UN values at every step.

Step 3: Seasoning - Flavor at Every Bite:

Learning sessions, trainings, meaningful recognition for adaptation to AI-savvy methods, appreciation for operational efficiencies are like seasonings which, when timed rightly leave any dish mouth-watering and delicious.

Step 4: Star of the dish

The star of the dish may be the AI-Driven Digital Transformation Sprints we are planning to conduct to purposefully implement AI solutions when the time is right, akin to the careful timing needed in cooking to achieve the perfect texture.

Step 5: The Michelin Star Plating:

Presenting this culinary masterpiece and offering a feast, would mean presenting the results altogether and showcasing the Bangladesh CO as a leading CO for purposeful AI utilization for greater impact and excellence.

And what's the chef's secret ingredient, you ask?

"The spontaneous collaboration of colleagues across the country office - their enthusiasm, energies, ideas, innovations and commitment to make UNDP a more efficient, effective and impactful place to work in" - Sonali's words, not ours!

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