AI for Peacebuilding: Promises and Pitfalls

The document examines the dual-use nature of AI in peacebuilding, highlighting its ability to forecast violence and scale civic inclusion while warning against risks like digital surveillance, algorithmic bias, and the erosion of human-led diplomacy. It argues for a hybrid approach that combines AI tools with local expertise and strict ethical governance to ensure technology supports stability rather than deepening conflict.

• AI can improve early warning systems by identifying precursors to violence—such as hate speech or troop movements—with short-term accuracy up to 95%, though overreliance is risky due to potential errors and biases in data-scarce environments.
• AI-enabled platforms like Remesh and Talk to the City are scaling civic inclusion in conflict zones, including Libya, Syria, and Yemen, by amplifying marginalized voices and facilitating multilingual consultations.
• AI-powered mapping, such as the DISHA initiative, accelerates humanitarian response by reducing damage analysis times by a factor of six, but these tools risk being misused for targeting civilians or suppressing dissent.
• While social media business models often reward polarization, pro-social AI design—such as the Perspective API and Phoenix—can foster constructive online spaces by prioritizing thoughtful narratives over sensationalism.
• Responsible AI governance is essential in fragile settings where regulatory systems are weak, as without guardrails, AI can facilitate algorithmic discrimination, predictive policing, and surveillance.

APA

International Panel on the Information Environment (2025). AI for Peacebuilding: Promises and Pitfalls. https://www.ipie.info/research/sfp2025-3

Chicago

International Panel on the Information Environment. AI for Peacebuilding: Promises and Pitfalls. 2025. https://www.ipie.info/research/sfp2025-3.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Panel on the Information Environment |title=AI for Peacebuilding: Promises and Pitfalls |date=2025 |url=https://www.ipie.info/research/sfp2025-3 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalpanelontheinformationenvironment2025peacebuilding, author = {{International Panel on the Information Environment}}, title = {{AI for Peacebuilding: Promises and Pitfalls}}, institution = {International Panel on the Information Environment}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.ipie.info/research/sfp2025-3}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }