UN Research Institute Builds AI Avatars to Simulate Refugee Experiences
The UN developed AI refugee avatars to raise awareness, but the project sparks debate on ethics and representation.
Matilda
UN Research Institute Builds AI Avatars to Simulate Refugee Experiences UN Research Institute Creates AI Refugee Avatars to Simulate Crisis Realities Understanding the refugee experience is a complex task—one that technology is now attempting to simplify. A United Nations-affiliated research institute has recently developed AI refugee avatars aimed at helping users better comprehend the challenges faced by displaced individuals. These digital personas, named Amina and Abdalla, were created as part of an experimental class project at the United Nations University Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR). While the initiative is still in its early stages and not an official UN tool, it raises pressing questions about the ethical use of artificial intelligence in humanitarian narratives. Whether this tech-forward approach can truly enhance empathy—or risk dehumanization—is the heart of the conversation unfolding now. Image Credits:UNU-CPR/404 Media What Are AI Refugee Avatars and Why Were They Created? The AI refugee avatars project features two fictional characters…