In the Business of... AI for Human and Social Impact

Despite significant investment and optimism, many artificial intelligence initiatives for social good struggle to achieve sustained impact. In this conversation, Dr Krittika D’Silva argues that the challenge lies not in the technology itself, but in how these efforts are designed, implemented, and embedded in practice.

Drawing on their experience building and scaling AI solutions in non-profit and humanitarian contexts, Dr D'Silva examine how outcomes are shaped by institutional capacity, operating structures and the partnerships through which these solutions are developed and deployed.

The discussion will consider what needs to change for AI to move beyond pilot projects and deliver meaningful impact at scale.

About the speaker

Dr Krittika D'Silva is Director of Strategic Initiatives at the International Rescue Committee, where she works at the intersection of strategy, innovation and technology to strengthen how the organisation operates and delivers impact, with a particular focus on applying artificial intelligence and data systems to improve decision-making and performance.

Prior to joining the IRC, she spent five years at McKinsey & Company, where she advised and built data and AI capabilities across the public, private and social sectors – supporting organisations from early-stage concept through to scaled deployment.

She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge and is a former Gates Cambridge Scholar. She was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for contributions to Science.