WCIT CHARITY REVIEW
WCIT AI/ML LEARNING EXCHANGE
06
Sharing experiences of emerging technologies
across the charity sector
Right: The first meeting
of the Learning Exchange
plans how to share AI
knowledge across the
Charity sector.
Below: The Learning
Exchange’s first public
debate on the ethics of
AI in the Charity sector.
At the
six-month
mark, the
AI/ML Learning
Exchange has
grown to
twelve charity
members
The rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence
and Machine Learning (AI/ML) provide a
hugely exciting opportunity for charities – but
one that is out of reach for the vast majority
of the sector due to a lack of both expertise
and funds.
It was therefore very exciting that the two
winners of the WCIT Charity IT Award 2018,
CALM and Missing People, were pioneering in
this respect. It was clear, though, that there
was also a unique opportunity for AI/ML to
make a wider impact.
further thought leadership and practical
advice, but it’s strictly a sales-free, vendor
neutral, “Chatham House Rule” environment,
so the charities can be comfortable
discussing their issues and concerns. The
ensuing debates have been stimulating,
thought-provoking and, according to the
feedback to date, extremely pertinent to the
charities and their projects. A collaborative
technical platform is also being created to
share information and assets.
By setting up a Learning Exchange on AI/ML,
the WCIT was able not only to connect CALM
and Missing People with technical experts
within the WCIT membership, but also to
create a channel to share experiences and
lessons learned in these emerging
technologies across the charity sector.
So far, it is working. At the six-month mark,
the AI/ML Learning Exchange has grown to
twelve charity members, ranging from
household names such as Cancer Research,
Samaritans and the NSPCC, to smaller
organisations like The Brain Tumour Charity
and Family Lives.
Monthly workshops and themed events offer
an open exchange of ideas to provide valuable
insights and shortcuts that are particularly
useful to charities just beginning their AI/ML
journey. WCIT members have contributed
The charities who have joined the AI Learning
Exchange are all engaged in important
endeavours that affect a wide range of
society – if the WCIT AI/ML Learning
Exchange can facilitate and help them
become more effective in realising their
desired outcomes, then we will be achieving
something truly worthwhile.
If you wish to contribute or join the WCIT
Learning Exchange, please contact the Chair,
Maxine Ricketts, via [email protected].